Well, I just Check. One, two. Testing. One, two. Sorry. I don't know. All right. And that's why when I go back when I go, you know, visit, you know,
>> I love it. Just I slide right into it. >> New York. >> [laughter] >> You just can't say hello. >> Well, that's all right. That because that's that's your passwords. That's >> get the answer back. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> That's fine.
>> Who is it? Oh, we got to go. It's three. It's the time. >> Okay. >> Something going on. We don't know. All right, Reggie, where the hell are you? Oh, here she is. She's here.
Happy new year. >> Good. Thank you. >> How are you? >> What are you checking on here? >> I'm looking for my wanders around. We >> did. You got three minutes.
>> Good morning, sir. Morning. >> Good to see you. Good to be seen. >> Yeah. So, is that new? Uh, >> this new? >> Not really. Been going on for three months now. >> Shattered it. Shattered my ankle.
Rebuild. I literally say I've been screwed. They put eight screws in it. Build backus bones. >> Technically, I can put weight stuff on it now. It's been long. My wife told me that yesterday. So I said, "Good. I take it off and walk." I walk down the car, get a little thing
sore as hell. So I said, "And getting around is just as easy to go on a scooter. I'm used to it." >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> You got you got to gain trust in you got to gain confidence in that. It takes a long time. I have a I have a knee replacement. It's about eight months in.
And still I feel no pain. Works just fine. I'm still not >> I trust it. >> I don't trust it. >> I won't kneel on it. >> I got two. I'll give you one. >> Every time I get
>> Oh, you got one. Everything falls out. >> Yeah. You get you get used to the uh to the apparatus in there. >> You do. What the hell was going on? >> I don't know. Did you do that? I I I I was predictable.
>> It was >> from the getgo. Oh, yeah. because administration was having issues personality personalities. >> You got you got you got some people taking political positions that are completely void of any background
whatsoever. So they think that they have control in charge. >> Councils are only as good as the council what you can what you can glean out of it. But you can't dictate to it. And a
lot of that's taking place. Staff manager retired. >> Well, she was ready to retire early in high school. >> Oh, did you? Yeah. She's a she's a dear friend and uh I I actually was the one that brought her there to
encourage her came into the land sought out. We were losing manager we had we were losing. She was finishing up at the end of the year and she was fine. >> Uh, >> I needed a replacement, but I needed I wanted >> somebody reach. >> Did you go?
>> So, I went and talked to Dale. I went and talked to Bob. >> I'd like to call the meeting to order. >> She was she was in she was in the she was in >> microphone. >> Okay. I'd like to call the meeting to
order. I'd like to welcome everyone to Valuia Echo Advisory Committee meeting. Today is January 6, 2026. It's 9:00 a.m. >> Okay, please have a roll call.
>> Reggie Santilly here. >> Trisha Drago here. >> Gerald Fezer >> here. >> Tom Leutka >> here. John Maluso >> here. >> Pat Nory >> here. >> Jay Pendergast
>> here. >> Doug Pettit >> here. >> Leah Washington >> here. >> We have a quorum. Thank you. Um public participation and I'd like to remind someone to people who come to speak up. You have three minutes at the podium.
Mr. Chester. >> Good morning. My name is Keith Chester. Some of the things on the agenda today are very troubling considering what we've already seen that's occurred with the Dutton House, the Dan Museum, and other project failings.
I think that we need to look to the Pontolon lighthouse from now on as an example and a shining star of how we should operate the echo program. The Ponto Leon lighthouse is owned by the city of Pon inlet and it is managed
and operated and was restored through the assoc through a uh nonprofit association and they've done a fantastic job on that property and have continued to do so since 1972. If you look to that project, uh you'll
understand that one of the best things that can occur by ownership is that if that association failed, the taxpayers who we should be calling the stakeholders, not those with their hand out, the taxpayer stakeholders
can gain their property back. And I think from now on that any facilities that you're investing our dollars in should be owned by a government entity even if they are going to be operated by a nonprofit. We need to start thinking
more about the true stakeholders being the taxpayers. We need to put brakes on this strategic plan. The idea of pushing money out to push money out and making it easier is ridiculous with all the failings that we have seen from this program.
The 20-year grant requirement needs to be moved to a 30 40 year again the way it was originally. That's what the citizens were promised was legacy projects. Legacy is not 20 years.
And we should know I should knowe that many of these projects that are coming back to you wouldn't have the clawback if we had the 20-year in place. Now transparency, transparency, transparency.
The county's echo dashboard should also include all annual reports. All nonprofits should be required on their web page and they should be required to have a web page on their web page to have a transparency page that
includes all board me minutes and financials and the board uh members. Let's remember the Dutton House got to the point literally only had one board member and that was the president and the Dutton House was sold to the board
president's friends. She sat right stood right here and said those were her friends. And the same board president was at the Dam Museum and the Dan Museum was sold to the same friends. >> Thank you, Mr. Chester. >> I've left you a handout. If y'all please
read it over. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Hope everyone's had um the time to read the minutes from October 9th, >> 2025. Were there any additions or
corrections to the minutes? >> And do I have a motion to approve? >> I'll make a motion we accept the minutes as submitted. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries.
Okay. New business. Uh Dan. >> All right. Happy new year everyone. Daniel Marsh, echo manager. Uh so today's agenda is uh pretty lengthy. We do have two action items that require a vote. Those will be B and E. The rest of the new business items areformational
and discussion purposes only. Uh we'll jump right into uh the first item here. Um this is the 2026 Echo grant cycle update. So the calendar has been posted. We are moving to a spring grant cycle
permanently and this will give us time to implement the the strategic plan as well as give us time to finish the new grant management software. Um this was a response to our stakeholders and this will also align with um municipality
budgets moving forward. Um the next cycle will start April 23rd which will be our mandatory workshop. Um the rest of the calendar um our applications are due June 11th and then our final applications will be due in July and
then we'll tour and do the grant review panel in August and then they should go to county council around September or October for final approval. Any questions about where we're at with the new cycle? All right. So, Nick's going to jump into our
next item, which is the 2026 work plan and 25 annual report. [clears throat] >> Uh, good morning. Nick Dunham, resource stewardship director. Um, as we kick off the new year, we just want to go back over um with a reminder of the duties and the roles of the committee u by providing you with the annual work plan
and goals and a quick report of last year's accomplishments. So per council resolution and uh council authority, the work plan includes the uh duties of the committee to oversee review of applications, make
recommendations on awarding of grants and per periodically review the criteria and procedures and guidelines of the echo program. Um, so we have some specific goals here for the year that would include reviewing the 2026 Echo grants and aid applications, providing
direct feedback on DCE direct county expenditure application projects to review scope changes, timeline extensions, bud budget modifications, compliance issues, and provide recommendations to county council and review updated 2026 echo grant guide
book and associated policy revisions approved by council. um and to continue the implementation of recommendations that would be approved by council from the echo 2040 strategic plan. So with that I will roll into the 2025
annual report. You know the committee participated in the strategic planning session that took a few months throughout the year to complete. The echo program also awarded four projects for $1.3 million out of the echo
program. And important [snorts] note here, 16 projects were closed and completed, which brings us to a to total of 234 complete echo projects out of 319 total projects. And with that, uh, we would need a vote
to approve this work plan to move forward. Thank you. >> Do I have a motion to approve? >> So move. >> Second. >> A second. >> All those in favor say I. Is there a discussion on the on the issue on the motion? >> Yes, there's discussion.
>> Yeah. So, before you go to a vote, >> I have a question for Nick. I bought my advisory booklet and you guys gave me when I became a board member here last year. >> Is this resolution in here? >> It is. >> Um, >> I look for it.
>> All the resolutions should be in that guidance. Now the the resolutions that I'm finding in here were the resolutions on the creation of uh resolution 200920 the resolution to create the echo funding 20 201163 um amending that 202079
which is resolution I don't know whatever it wasn't that one um and then the ballot resolution and that's where the resolutions end so I'm not finding it in here >> all right resolution 2007-78 Right. And so what I'm going to suggest
is because I've been asking about what my responsibilities as a board member are since I got here and there's a there's a section in the back here that sort of gives me a little bit of narrative on that, but it doesn't show this. So I'm going to suggest that you're diligent about the fact that
resolution 2007-78 is included in the booklet that you guys hand out to new members because it wasn't and it created questions for me that I didn't answer. Couldn't answer. So >> Okay. >> Right. Okay, >> we'll make sure to add that moving forward. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> That's all.
>> Any other discussion? All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. >> All right. So before we jump into the next item C through F, I just wanted to review our monitoring and compliance
process uh per the echo guide book. Um so during the construction phase of the projects we echo staff will go out at a minimum twice per year to make sure that the construction is going smoothly. Um so we'll visit those projects twice
per year um during the two-year or if it's an exceptional grant we'll go out and visit up to six times throughout the three years. Once the project is finished um depending on the restrictive c covenant of 20 30 or 40 years we will
go out and visit that project on a trianual basis. So what we do when we go out to each site is we look to um make sure that there's public access ADA access to the site. We also make sure that the site is still being used for an
echo purpose, that it's meeting what was in the actual grant application, and if the facility is in clean working order, are they keeping up with their maintenance and operations? And we also check the echo sign to make sure that it's still in a prominent location and it looks good. Um when we go out to that
site um once we're at the site, we will then um do a monitoring worksheet and we will send a letter of compliance if we do find that there is a finding or concern at the particular site. Then what we do
is we will send that letter of compliance to the applicant grantee and ask for a plan of action or a timeline of compliance. you know, if there is that if there is no action, then we just simply send a letter. Thank you for being, you know, a
good steward of the Echo dollars and we continue to work with you moving forward. All right, so jumping into um we'll start with uh Heritage Preservation Trust. Um this is the Hotchkus Historic Home. This was a grant that was given in
2012. Um the awarded amount was $500,000. The revised grant amount is $48550. This is a covenant of 40 years. So I'm going to take you through the
timeline of the compliance um as we've uh monitored this site. So dating back to August of 2020, um we visited the site and determined that there was no public access. there were some maintenance deficiencies as well as they
did not submit an annual report that year. We issued a monitoring letter um to the grantee and then we also came out again in 2023 which was in our three-year time window to visit and the maintenance
deficiencies had worsened there. Um there was also a violation of the grant agreement as there was uh family residency being used at the caretaker house. We then uh a asked for a plan of action which was submitted to
us um in April of 24. They fixed some of the issues there but they did not complete everything as required. We went back out in April of 25. there was still some maintenance deficiencies as well as public access
was denied to the second floor of the property. Um they submitted an action plan in June. Um and they basically told uh Echo staff that they cannot maintain both properties. It's not something feasible
that they can do. and they were going to place H Hotchkus House on the market for sale and pay off the grant for H Hotchkus, which is the 485509. Um, they wanted to use the proceeds from this sale to maintain the their other
grant, which is Lillian, which we'll touch on next. Um, this went through our legal department and we issued a notice of intent to enforce the restrictive covenant and the county would pursue all legal remedies for this grant. and we
are asking them to pay back 485,509 and they currently do have a pending sale on the property. Any questions about this? >> Yeah. Does that does it cover that the pending sale?
>> I saw what it was listed for uh just under a million dollars. Um but I can't answer um exactly what the total sale amount is. We do have a member from Heritage Preservation Trust that is available to answer any questions
pertaining to their grant. >> Daniel question for me um two questions actually. Um one is on specific to this and one is the procedure procedural question. Um, is the county's uh interest protected in this sale? In other words, as soon as the check is
written from a buyer, does the county pull its 485 out or get it right away? Just want to make sure that the sale doesn't go off and the county's left, you know, stumbling around looking for the buyer to to try to get their money. >> Sabrina Slack, assistant county
attorney. the uh county records a restrictive uh covenant and which was a lean for the full amount on it. So it's part of the record. Um the title company will pick that up and if the title company doesn't pick it up then we would go after you know the buyer and the title company but we are protected with
the lean >> statuto lean. >> Okay. All right. My my second question is procedural to this issue. If when when you visited in 2020 and there were violations, I'm I'm just puzzled on why that wouldn't trigger a more aggressive visitation schedule rather than waiting
three more years to go back out. You know, like the health department, they don't go go to your restaurant, find rat droppings and cockroaches, and wait two years to come back. They they give you a notice of compliance, and then you have to you comply within a short amount of time, and they come back out and revisit. So, I'm just concerned about
the fact that we let this thing sit for three years, let it go into further decay and and then came back with, okay, now you got to do something. >> Um, so this was during time of COVID. Um, so that that was probably one of the
reasons why we didn't go back out and visit uh the project at that time. Um, but we do also want to work with our partners. So we when we're when we go out and visit with them, we don't want to just drop the hammer on on these grantees and we try to work with them to
come up with some sort of resolution to get the project back open for public access or to work through their compliance issues. So we have uh you know spent a good amount of time working with Heritage Preservation Trust to get them back into compliance. We just have
gotten to the point where it's no longer working for us. >> Yeah. I just, like I said, I understand wanting to work with your grand tours, but at some point it just seems like it's it's our responsibility to protect the interest of the taxpayers in this thing. And that is, you know, I'm not going to wait three years for you to,
you know, I want to wait a year for you to get in compliance. I'm going to go back out within a year and see if you've made suitable changes or or are on the on the road to making those changes. Yeah, I'd like to add, you know, currently we are on a very strict monitoring schedule with follow-up
timelines and revisits to make sure those timelines are met. We do approximately 100 visits a year on our sites for monitoring visits now. Um, and we are on schedule for everything that is in requirement. So, so currently I understand your concern for the the
years during CO, but currently we are um on schedule with everything we have. I just think that if there a violation the c the the requirements need to change. So I don't know where those requirements come from. Are they county oriented? Are they from the county council? Are they, you know, created by your department?
But I think if there's a violation, those requirements probably need to be adjusted. So thank you. >> I wanted to ask, so the owner of record for the Hodkas house is the preservation trust. >> That's correct, Patricia. They are the the
>> All right. And I wanted to know as we have gone forward and because the Lily Place comes up next, have you looked at the books and the and the the the structure of the heritage trust to see if they are financially I know
you have to file 990s etc. Do we know that as a as a grantee and recipient they obviously they were not financially able to keep their part of the bargain or perhaps the obligation exceeded what
they had originally thought they were going to have to do at the Hutchkas house. I want to know how financially sound and has that been looked at for the heritage preservation trust as we go forward. So, they're going to So, they will sell this property for somewhere
close to I'm just going to say $900,000. The county will be made whole with a $485,000. The balance of those funds go into Heritage Preservation Trust. Am I correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, those proceeds go into
Heritage Preservation Trust. And I know when they when an entity does its initial application, they submit their budget and their financials. I wanted to know if we if during the course of
this, do we take a second look at their financials and what have you found as far as their feasibility as an entity? >> We have not taken a look at their financials. We did request their board minutes and we did not receive those.
Okay. Um, it kind of goes along with that. So, when they sell the property, I know that we are looking at getting the repayment on the grant um, once that sale is made whole. But in what order are things paid back? Because if the trust has a lot of
debts and leans and all kinds of other things that are pending payment on top of the grant, which one gets paid first? >> Oh, you really want a lawyer question. It depends. So, um, leans are subject to a statutory priority. So, um, there's
also other conditions that may apply. So, for instance, if there's an IRS lean, that's a super lean. They're going to go first. Then that's going to be followed by other leans that may or may not have super priority. Then leans go in time of recording. So, our lean would
be whenever uh whatever time ours is in. So, as part of the closing, I, as you may or may not know, title companies look at all the leans. They will do a closing statement, prioritize those leans and determine who has um they have lawyers. We look at them also. So, I'll
look at it and it'll go by priority. I have not looked at this this one to see um where we sit in the in the queue, but I don't recall seeing a lot of other leans on this property ahead of us. Okay, that was my main concern is in
order to actually pay back the grant, where are we at in that totem pole um of actually getting those funds back. And then my other question is granted taking into account 2020 and the leniency that we all experienced during that time because we did see that there were
additional issues in 2023. Why did it take so long for us to get here? That's that's one of my bigger questions is it still took two years for it to get to this point in front of us. So I'm I'm in Doug's
um point, you know, are there additional measures that we can take once we notice like we noticed that the initial one co aside we we noticed that there were initial issues in 2020 COVID hit but in 2023 there were further issues. There were more deep issues. There was
definite like raising red flags. Why did it still take two years to get to this point where we're discussing it? >> I mean, like I said before, um we want to work with our grantees and applicants. So, we um felt it was we
worked with them to try to get some some of their tea parties back open, their public access. Um they did fix some of the compliance issues, but you know, our our staff goal is to is to work with these applicants and to keep these
projects running through the 20, 30, 40year restrictive cup. >> Yeah, [clears throat] thanks Tanya. I was going to point that out that they did attempt to start making some of these repairs, but they just did not complete them. So, on our follow-up visit, when we found out they were not fully complete, that triggered additional compliance issues in the
timeline we're at today. I I'm just going to say and Jay can jump in on this. When you have a house of the age of the Hotchkiss house or Lily in place, it is no small matter to m first
bring it up to some kind of standard to maintain and to operate. It takes a a lot of money and that's why I asked about the financial wherewithal of the heritage trust and I remember that I remember the zeal with which that property was brought forward to the
county council and all of that. I remember all of that but it takes a lot of money to have a property like that. >> Do we have a representative of the heritage trust? Yeah,
>> can ask some questions of them directly. >> Good morning. My name is John Dillard and I'm the president of the Heritage current president of the Heritage Preservation Trust. A lot of information has been discussed and some of it's accurate, some of it's not quite a little bit misleading and um I did write
everything down. So I would like to go back through if anybody has any questions for me on any of the issues, but the two that stand out is in 2020 was in right in the middle of COVID. We were restricted for the number of people we could have in there. It reached a
point where when once we had staff in for our TE's, we couldn't really even have enough people in there of participants that would cover the cost of having the TE's. So we were greatly restricted during that period of time. Before then with H Hotchkus, we had
wedding venues, we had dinner parties, we had all kinds of fundraising events and we're doing fairly well. And it seems like once CO hit and everybody just kind of pulled back and quit going out in the public. We we really suffered
from it. Now, the two properties together, we got uh Lillian in 2009 and then in 2012 we got H Hotchkas. And between those two properties, I'd say up until earlier this year, we've
spent well over $2 million of fund money that we've raised and grants that we've received for maintaining those properties. Mr. Drago, you're absolutely right. They are money pits. Absolute money pits. And uh structurally they're both in very good
condition. Um we had to do some work on Lillian because of some some um damage that was done during the construction of the bridge when they driving piles for the bridge construction. It did a little bit of damage to the to the um foundation of it, but that's been
stabilized. We've been through three hurricanes since then and it seems to be fine. Um most of the back on H Hotkus in 2020 um when they came out and did the inspection and said
that we weren't in compliance. To my knowledge, we never received a letter from Echko on that inspection. We never received anything formally from them on it. We did have a person that was a caretaker that was staying there. He did
have a daughter and yes, she was living in there. We didn't think that was a violation of the agreement because the agreement allows for that and the agreement also allows for that at Lillian to have own own you know property staff members that can stay
there and maintain help maintain the property. So, um, as far as financially goes, it's it's tough sometimes. We get pretty low in our account, but we have, like I said, we've had Lillian since 2009
and we've had H Hotchkiss since 2012 and we've had some really good years and we've had some years that we really struggled with. Um, it reached a point where it was more volunteers come and go. Um,
we've had a little bit of an issue with volunteers in one of the just because of the the amount of, [clears throat and cough] excuse me, amount of homeless people and and derelicts that are on property scare a lot of our volunteers away where they don't want to be there. We lost a fence
on I guess we're really talking about Codkus, but Lillian is is another issue. I guess I'll have an opportunity to discuss that in in the near future. Yes, sir. >> So, let me just to clarify. Okay. >> Lillian, >> there's the one right next to the bridge, right? >> Inside the yellow one next to the bridge.
>> Okay. So, just just so you know, I've been there a couple times. >> Okay. >> Um and the first time was somebody said it was a haunted house and I wanted to go see it until my wife and I were there. And the second time was at Christmas this year. Um my wife and I wanted to do a 19th century house for
for pictures and we couldn't find anything suitable. Went there thinking it was suitable. It wasn't lit up. I find no signage there. I don't see any signage. Maybe it's maybe it's down. Maybe it's But I had I would have had no idea it was Lilian House if I hadn't looked on the map and gone there like that. So there's concern for me that
about the marketing or promotion that I I didn't see any coming in off that sides coming in off Orange Avenue that there, you know, it's really it's almost like going down an alley to get into the place. But there's a large sign right there on the corn. >> Okay. Well, then I must have missed it.
So I I mean >> place on it. I mean >> I've been there a couple times looking for it. So, maybe I I'll go back after this today and and look for it for sure. >> Yeah, it's kind of caddy corner at the at the driveway and on on >> on uh on Silver Beach. Okay. >> And it's just kind of sad.
>> And then once you get into the property, there's really no signage that I've seen of any kind saying, you know, hours or what we do or anything like that. So, I'm just concerned. My other concern is this. >> Daniel just said that you guys were asked for an annual report and refused to to provide it. Why is that? >> No, we weren't asked for an annual
report. progressed for minutes from our last meeting and that was an understanding when we were talked about putting hot on the market for the sale of it and we had a board meeting and discussed that and my understanding was he wanted the minutes from that meeting for that particular issue. Why it was
never sent to him I'm not sure. I thought they had gone to him but if he didn't receive it and maybe he didn't I don't know I can certainly check. There's nothing we're hiding because of it. We've have have board members. We've got several board members. We meet on a regular basis and we still move forward
with the projects, but we did meet to discuss what to do with Hodgekus and we decided since Lillian is the older of the two homes and you've been in it. I mean, it's it's a jewel of a piece of property. It's the oldest house
on Beachside in Daytona. It's uh it's a little rustic, but it's uh you know, it's an Italian8 Victorian home built in 1884, 1885. First house on Beach Street in on Beachside in Daytona. And uh we
just want to be able to maintain that and keep it open to the public. >> How many board members do you have >> members? >> How many board members? >> 12. >> I have a couple questions. Um, when is the anticipated closing on Hotchkin's house? >> It was midFebruary, I believe, is what
we're shooting for. >> Please go to the microphone if you're going to speak for the record. I'm sorry. Thank you. >> I'm Fran Dillard and I'm also a board member. Uh the sale is pending going through the county process to get permission to sell. So they have signed
an extension through March 6, but intend to close as soon as possible. >> And the buyer's already gone through the due diligence process. >> They they have gone through part of it. I don't know if they've completed it. >> Okay. >> We did extend the due diligence period, too.
[clears throat] >> Yeah. What are there any other contingencies to the contract? No, it's being sold as is. >> Have you have you thought about getting a bridge loan to cover the amount to do the repairs at Lillian House in the meantime?
>> No, we haven't. Um, we had actually anticipated on closing before the end of the year and so that getting on the agenda here is what held us up. So, as far as we're concerned, the sooner the better and hopefully it happens
>> soon. Now, back to the excuse me, back to the the issue about the um um picking order that you're in as far as when the sale goes through. Um the only outstanding thing that is owed on Hodgekus is for
the most recent survey which is about $4,000 and that's to be paid at closing. Um Smart Title is our title company and they've worked with it. They've already got the the you know opinion of title on it. There is nothing else outstanding on
the property. So and the sale price and and Daniel was was correct. that's in the range that he discussed. So, there's plenty of money to cover the the payback for the county on the grant and also to be able to make the needed cosmetic
repairs on Lillian. [clears throat] >> This might be a little bit of an ignorant question, but um is the house being sold to maintain the historical status of the property? Yes. And that was something else that and we probably
could have gotten a little more money for. I mean, it it's about 1.35 acres on the river. It's a beautiful piece of property. And the house is 5700 square ft Victorian home built in 1905 and it's in very good shape
structurally. It needs to be painted. And um unfortunately when they did the railing around there, they used regular metal fasteners and so all the little brad nails and everything else are all rusting out and it's just a continue. It needs to be totally redone on the
railing. But the house itself is in good shape and uh and and the people that are purchasing it, they've owned some other own other properties in the area and their intent is to fully restore it and use it as a wedding events and and
possibly even uh do a bed and breakfast there. So, their intent is to save the house. It won't be open to the public, but it will be saved. That's our understanding of it anyway. Mr. Dillard, you mentioned the damage to
the foundation. Was that the Lillian or the Hot? >> That was Lilian. >> Lillian. Okay. We'll wait for Lilian. Yeah. And uh and they we hired a group and it was a fairly expensive process, but they went through and and uh brought up the the
foundation back up to its its regular levels. And we have a series of structural supports underneath there that were installed. and it's a very stable house. You know, we even had a a structural engineer give us a letter of his opinion that it was structurally
sound. Um, in our last meeting we had in in November, I believe Daniel requested a second opinion or another letter. We're not really sure exactly what it was for, but like I said, we've been through three hurricanes since the repairs were done
and and the house is is held up very well. >> There any other questions, Pat? I just another question. I know you the people that are on the contract have uh have the intent of operating as a bed and
breakfast and or event venue. But what uh is a land designation? There's not a restriction in the co in the deed that you convey or even if you did there wouldn't be anything that ran with the land. So, I wanted to know current zoning and that that to me [laughter] it
I'm just looking at that. >> No, I know. I know. I was shocked. This property may operate as a bed and breakfast for a venue for a couple of years while they go. I can just see this as prime real estate. >> Well, the problem with it is and and
we've talked about that there's two or three issues. Number one, we talk about the zoning. U the city of Daytona Beach did a blanket zoning in that area. Blanket zoning in that area. We weren't any of aware that it would the zoning had changed >> and it's zoned that you could build riverfront condos. Is it not >> 40 units per acre? Yes.
>> Right. Yeah. >> That's what I thought. And I was kind of surprised of that. But with with a special permit or a special process, you can do what they want to do with it. You can still have events there. You can still do a bed and breakfast there. >> But it is an exception to the underlying
zoning. >> That's correct. That's correct. And actually, Lilian, it's the same zoning. >> Correct. I could I just can see. Okay, that's >> and one thing we didn't want to do was sell both properties because then you have a drive-through access that's narrow enough to where you really can't
develop it. By the time you put a road down with a culde-sac on the end and everything else to make fire and everybody else happy with it, >> you lose all the property. >> So, the only way to do it would be to make an L-shaped road that would go come
in off of Peninsula and and exit off on Silver Beach. And the only way to be able to do that is to own both properties. And we don't want to give up Lillian for the exact one of those reasons, but that's one of the reasons we don't want to because that blocks that access point and keeps it from
being bulldozed and developed because our our really our main goal and our love is is Lilian and that's what we're trying to save. So, from what I'm understanding is that um there's not really technically anything in the sale that is preventing
them or anything with the county or the city that is preventing them from demolishing the property and building condos. >> Well, talked to um an official with Daytona Beach, Jim Morrison, and he basically said that they would have a very very
hard time getting permission to take that building down. So, there's no guarantees. Of course, there's no guarantees if you guys take it back. I mean, you know, there's just no guarantees. >> It'sund It was built in 1905, so it's
>> 20 year old house in Florida, you know, frame construction. Been through Yeah, it's it like I said, we've spent over $2 million on those two properties in the last 15 years, and uh we could spend another two million on it
tomorrow. Any other questions? >> Just one just one question. Uh I went over there yesterday just to refresh my memory and come in off of uh uh uh what's the road girl across the bridge? >> Silver Beach. >> Silver Beach bridge. Yeah. Well, and you
turn in there, you know, and I saw I did see the sign there, Doug. Uh but it is tight. And then when I came out, I you know, went out off of Peninsula kind of cut through. Will that be able that access continue or will they be when they get that because it seemed like it would be difficult coming in and out of Orange? Uh
>> yeah, the the east west the the exit that you took out was part of the old Mobile Avenue rightway which was vacated and when they vacated it >> for some reason usually they split it down the middle and give each side property owners half. For some reason it
all went to Hodgekas. So technically that is Hotchka's property for that east west exit out on the peninsula. >> So [snorts] so Lillian will have to go in and out off of >> but it's a recorded ingress egress easement and everybody uses it. So I don't think they could stop you from using it. >> Sabrina Slack, assistant county
attorney. In 2019, the county reserved an easement for public access uh from Peninsula down Mobile Avenue for public access to the river. So that easement is going to remain it through the sale. So
the vacated uh mobile avenue still is an easement that'll be retained by the county that was given to us by Heritage Preservation Trust in 2019. >> My understanding is that easement will go away once it's sold. >> That that would have to be uh something the title company would work out, but
it's it does not have a an end date. It just is an easement given to you by you to the county. >> Yeah. You know, it was basically wrestled from us by the county, but [laughter] but it was for public access to the river only. It was never
>> during the grant. >> Yeah. During during during the period of the grant. So once that grant goes away, it was my understanding that all those will be vacated. >> That it'll be a title issue because there's no expiration on it as recorded. >> Okay.
But you all can vacate it if it's a title issue. >> Yeah, >> that's not for me. So, I'm just saying that's that's what as we sit here today, there's a recorded easement down Mobile Avenue for the benefit of the county. >> There's a recorded easement across the whole front of Hodkins, too. Riverfront easement. They've got the whole property
across the front and that's got to go away. That can't maintain. Now, the the bulk of the easement that goes >> the bulk of the easement that goes down to the river is on Lilian property and and obviously we wouldn't have a problem
with that remaining. It's just the portion that's on Hotress. >> No, that that is true. >> I'm just looking at the easement. It says to having to hold forever. So, [laughter] >> for a while. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That's longer than 40 years.
[laughter] Are there any other questions for Mr. Dillard? >> Any for Dan or Nick for staff? >> Did you have anything else you wanted to say, Mr. Dillard? >> No, just we've enjoyed it. We really
appreciate you all support on this. Um, both properties are absolutely gorgeous. It's a beautiful piece of property. I think the properties themselves are worth what the taxpayers have in the grant itself. So even if the houses weren't there any longer, I still think they could claw back what they needed.
So anyway, we've enjoyed working on both properties and we we hate to see Hodkkins change hands, but it's just gotten to a point where it's more than we can handle both properties and we want to focus strictly on Lillian because we feel like that has more
historical bearings. We've got and Josie Rogers stuff materials and her furniture and her diplomas and stuff. And we've got the first mayor of Daytona Beach is furniture that he brought down from Kentucky furnishes one of the rooms of Lily. And so we've got a lot of
historical stuff there that we really enjoy. So anyway, no more comments. Thanks. >> Thank you, Mr. Dillard. We do have some public participation. Mr. Chester, once again, three minutes. We certainly need to learn from the
past. We keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. It's like we're pounding our heads on against the wall. Board minutes, by the way, came up with the Dutton House. They had no board minutes to even prove who the president was. Staff has to be sure we're getting
the board minutes. And if we do, like I said, and make it a requirement that these organizations have a web page with a transparency page that includes board minutes, it'll solve that. If these people, and we should thank them for what they've done so far, if
they're really passionate about these two homes, and the former board thought that they were important enough to invest in, we need the best thing they could do to preserve
them now and way into the future is to give them to the county. Give them to the county. basically give them back to the people because the community, not just through our tax dollars through ECHKO, the community as a whole has
invested in them. And if we think that they're important enough to save and to keep, they should give them to the county and then get a group together to figure out where to proceed. Even if a nonprofit takes care of the maintenance and upkeep and everything from there on
out, much like is done at the lighthouse with the lighthouse organizations. If y'all trust Daytona, you're a damn fool because we've seen what Daytona does with development and they'll bulldo allow anything to be bulldozed for for
more development. So, let's let's not even consider that the best thing could be done here is that these wonderful people who've maintained these properties, they relinquish ownership of both
properties to the county's government and then we can work with them and work with others and figure out what's the best course of action for the future. And like again, just like the lighthouse, if we think that these
properties were important enough to have the taxpayers invest in in the first place, where are we at? We're just going to give it up now. So, I think that is the best course of action. Uh we don't need to beat up on them. It's difficult to do
these projects, but this needs to be a lesson for this board and this county and to the future. as you're giving money away. Remember the Dutton House? We have to look at history to learn. If we don't, we're damn fools. The Dutton
ended up getting down to one board member. If these people continue to operate the Lillian House alone, what's going to happen when they pass away? What's going to happen to the properties later? Will somebody come
behind them and allow it to dwindle down to one board member president who then sells to their friend investors? Please give the properties back over to the county. Work with the county for the future so they can be preserved for a
long term. If you really care and you're that passionate, that's what you should do. >> Thank you, Mr. Chester. Mr. Dillard, >> I just one comment on that. Um, we tried we tried to give both properties back to the county and we were told that you all weren't in the property business and you
didn't want them back. So, we're working the best we can with what we've got to keep these maintained. So, anyway, would love to have a city or a county sponsor us help us with projects. It'd be wonderful, but we don't. So, we're where we are.
>> Thank you. Okay. Okay. So, the issue here is are we going to resend the grant and get reimbursement from the Heritage Preservation Trust? >> Yes. Nick, did you want to say something? >> Yes. This is not a item that requires a
motion. This is just for review. >> Okay. >> Um, so just again, just a quick overview. We are bringing these these three items today as compliance issues before the committee for review. uh is completely procedural at this point. No action needs to be taken. These will be
presented to county council for action. >> Okay. >> Is and it is not required that we bring them to echo. So when we talk about transparency, Mr. Chester, um here you are. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Very good.
>> All right. So we'll jump into Lillian Place now. Uh Lillian was awarded in 2009. This was an emergency grant for acquisition due to uh it was going to be de demolition by neglect. This actually started our emergency grant program
which was approved by a council in July of 2009. Um this also same visit date we went out August of 2020. We issued the letter 91120 um for both properties as we were there on the same day. Um once again no
public access. They did not notify uh staff that there was no public access at that time. Came back out in 22 and there was actually no find your concerns at that time for Lily in place. Right. Um then we came back out uh in April at
the same time we visited Hotchkus and there had started to be some maintenance deficiencies with this property as well. Um sent out the letter. Um they also submitted an action plan in June of 22. Uh some of the action plans were that they were going to complete a lot of the
repairs between a 2-year time span which was not something that you know we could work with. Um they also advised that both properties were not uh feasible to maintain and they wanted to use the pro proceeds from Hotchkus to maintain
Lillian. So when they submitted their action plan in June, um I went back um out in November to see if they had done any of the things from their action plan and there was no action steps that were
taken from the June 22nd visit which led us uh you know no repairs or maintenance had started. The deadlines had passed. Um they had asked for a new deadline during the visit. Um, once again, no public access to the first or
second floor. While we were there, they also made us aware that they had discontinued daily tours as of summer of 25, which is also, you know, a public access violation of their agreement. Um, we did not know that. They told us that.
Um, we then brought this to to legal. Um, legal made the determination as well to enforce the restrictive covenant on this grant and ask for full payback of this grant which is $425,100 >> in the request to have the remittance of
$425,100. Have you verified that those assets are available? Uh Sabrina Slack, assistant county attorney. Uh the restrictive covenants are um or or the the 425,000 would be secured by the lean that's enforced
through the restrictive covenants. So the property is the asset that the county would be able to um recover that from. So then my so I want to know so the steps would be that we would record the lean. Okay. Would we then be in the
process of forcing a sale? A lean can only be enforced through a court order. So yes, it would have to be a court action uh to enforce a statutory lean against the asset which is the property. So I guess what I'm asking is
when this goes forward, what is then the success the uh the logical um consequences subsequent actions that they will take and we will take? I want to know. Okay, we've done H Hotchka's
house. Okay, that's done. Now we go forward with Lily in place and we are asking we are requiring a repayment of $425,000. We have not determined that they have that money currently in the bank to pay
it back. So that there will be a recorded covenant on the property. >> So the recorded covenant goes back to when the monies were first uh given to them to purchase the property. Okay. So our lean dates back to I forgot the date. So it dates back 10 years.
>> So what happens is when you have a lean, you have a your security interest is the real property, right? >> So you do not have a right to go after anything except the real property through that lean. >> So just in general legally and I
understand I was in real estate. I understand that. So then are we forcing them to sell this property? Will the county then execute its right through the lean? If if staff is directed to go forward with enforcement of the lean by
the county council, that would be the meth the only method with which we could, as you say, force u I prefer recover but to recover the asset. The only way forward would be in fact is voluntary
repayment or enforcement of the statutory lean. Enforcement of a statutory lean requires filing of a legal action and then going through the entire legal action, getting a judgment for a sale and having a public auction to then recover those monies and all the things that go with that which you
really don't want to. It's a m as I sit here I am thinking to myself a year from now we will find ourselves we will find ourselves with Hodka's house with a private owner
trying to figure out how to make a a cash flow and we will find Lily in place in a position of possibly a I'm not I won't call it a foreclosure sale, but a sale in order to
repay this this amount. And I and I just not sure I I uh I have a caution there about the two steps going hand in hand. And I know and I've had the conversation with Daniel, you know, that you can't take
the proceeds from Hotchka's house and repay for Lily Place. However, if this remedy had six months, perhaps there could do a bridge loan. There could be other ways to not have the sale come as
a natural consequence have the sale of Lily in place. I get I'm just asking us to think about how that flows. And we are I know we're not the decider. I understand that. Okay, >> Leah. So that's kind of going along with what
my thought process is because there's nothing to preserve these properties legally. There's nothing that preserves the historical consequence of these properties. So at the end of the day, the seller could say or I mean the buyer can say all the most lovely things in the world on their intents, but there's
nothing preventing this entire property, Lillian and just both of them, H Hotchkas and Lillian, ending up being a bunch of beachfront condos. So that's where my biggest most immediate issue is is how there's
nothing in here protecting the historical consequence of either one of these properties. >> Doug, >> I I think we need to understand that we're not the arbittors of what does that property that that we're just the arbiters of making sure that the taxpayers funds are protected. So what
happens with those properties? I love historic stuff. So I'm I'm I'm hoping for you. I'm pulling for you. But let me also ask this. Um, you know, as Forest said, I'm not a smart man. So, if you sell if you sell the Math or how whatever that other house was. Yeah. If you sell that one and you pay back the
Echol loan, you're left with a net of maybe a half a million dollars, right? If you sell it for 900,000, you pay the 400,000 back. You're left with an a pro proceeds of 500,000 that go over to the preservation trust because they sold the property. Are we not able to secure this
amount from that once it reaches the the bank with them? >> We are only allowed to do what is provided under the restrictive covenants which is a lean. So we are only allowed to go through the lean enforcement process. There is nothing in the restrictive covenants that would allow
us to go after their cash fun. >> Okay. Okay. And real quick, Nick, let me ask you this. You said this was not a votable item, >> but is this going to be a votable item at the county council? Do I need to be able to ensure that my county council member knows what we discussed today? >> Yes, this is an item that would be
approved by council. >> Okay. >> Um ju just as a reminder, you know, where we're at, we're at a enforcement action for compliance issues. You know, we're not really getting into what operationally they do with the property. >> Um the step we're at today is just an enforcement action that we're moving
forward to county council for a decision. And Doug, I can if I may add that they could voluntarily repay us for Lillian and it would satisfy. >> Any other questions? >> I do. [clears throat]
>> I you know I get it with the Matthysse House. I Lillian I really don't want to see that go away. I I'm kind of troubled where we're going to go with that. Is it a time factor, a money factor? Is there a solution we can come up with that we can all live with to make this thing be
successful? >> Mr. Dillard, >> John Dillard, Heritage Preservation Trust. That's why we're here today. We You're right. The two properties, you know, at one time Hodkis was one of many
Victorian houses. Looked very similar, but all along that ridge and one by one, they were taken down. When they did the Black Pearl property, they took a lot of houses down. We actually have in a Lilian in the master bedroom, we have a half tester bed that came from one of
those Victorian homes that was donated by a friend of mine, a contractor in town. And so we the furnishings that we've gotten to be able to accumulate in Lillian are very to the period. And it's a beautiful property. It really is. and and it's got a rustic feel to it that
just I don't know, you just fall in love with it when you spend as much time as you want with it. So, our intent is to do whatever we can to save that property. Now, we can pay the county back for the amount of the grant and have it owned privately, but then that
closes it for any public access. And what we really want to do and and right now what we're doing for for money for the operation of it is between the paranormal investigations we have there and the T te's we make enough money to
handle the the you know the the the monthly operational costs but really don't accumulate a whole lot of money for larger things and that's why we wanted to if we had the funding from the sale from HKUS
then With state grants, usually you can get a grant for improvements, but you have to spend the entire amount up front and then get reimbursed for it. That's a burden for us. If we're getting a $100,000 grant, we've got to come up
with $100,000 to spend before we can get any of it back from the from the state. So, that has hampered us at times on doing stuff like that. We still have done some race and rec generous to us. They've worked with us. So, but our intent on Lillian is to save it at all
costs. Whether we'd prefer to have it open for the public, get it back to a position where we can have it open for the public. We want to put a fence around it and protect it and the people that are there from the homeless migration all over the property that we
currently have and uh and get it back open to the public. That's our intent. But even if that doesn't if we can't work out something with Echo and move forward in that direction, then we have no choice but just to buy it outright and then it would go into private hands
and then you know at that point we'd have to come up with some other means of of being able to maintain it. But uh we have no intention of tearing it down. And that was one of the main reasons we wanted to sell Hotchkas off separately and not because at one time we talked
about putting the two together. And actually the people that are interested in in or that have a contract on Hodgekus are interested in this property too. But our concern was like you said if they run into a problem with Hodgekus now they've got a full access through
their riverfront. Boom. you've got a full-blown development in there and both properties are lost. So, and we don't want that to happen. >> I I just want to say it that I understand that a covenant does not in in fact enforce the sale. Okay. But I
would suggest that they may you may look at timing for effectiveness so that you would go forward with recording a covenant subsequent to whatever date the sale for Hotchkas is that would so you could
allow this to go forward and stay intact. That's that's a matter of timing, but the interests of the public would still be protected. That's just a thought that I have. That's not a an action, >> right? >> Preferably, I would like to have both
properties open to the public. Um, it's just not economically feasible. And if these people that are purchasing H Hotchkins do as they've intended they're going to do, at least the property can be maintained and you can still have access to it. You may have to rent a room for the night, but you can still
have access to it. But Lilian, we'd like to keep open to the public. We get so many people that come in and look and say, "I have no idea this was here. This is such a cool place. This is such a beautiful beautiful house." And uh it it makes us feel good because we have put
everything else in our lives pretty much on hold for for seems like the last 15 years to be able to maintain these properties. And uh hate to say it, but I think Lillian's probably in better shape than my homestead. [laughter] But but those kinds of, you know, sacrifices you
make. So anyway, we're dedicated to it and we'll do whatever we need to to make sure it stays open and in as good a condition as we can keep it in. >> Pat Northy, >> just um [clears throat] no no question, just a comment. Uh, I was on council
when we adopted the historic emergency historic acquisition program for Echo and this was Council Member Wagner. This was his passion about getting this done and bringing this into the fact not
public trust but to make it as as a not for profofit that was successful. What has I guess I do have a question. What have you all done as a board to do some outreach on sponsorships of of
maintenance or anything like that? Have you talked to council member? Well, he's not council member now, but have talked to Josh. >> Does he know that this is because this was he was passionate about this project. >> Yes. Yes. No, we have and we've outreached to a lot of people. Um, Home
Depot has been one of our biggest supporters. They've been wonderful and they provided all kinds of materials and grant stuff for us and things. So, no, we had it. >> What really put us in a little bit of a tail spin was the setback we had with
>> co co did that >> that really hurt us >> and we've been trying to claw out ever since. >> Okay. >> And that's why we reached the decision that if we had to save one of them, it was going to be Lillian. Well, that was the first one that we did as a story
>> g we had a lot of support at first and people just kind of evaporated. >> It's a beautiful place. I've been there. It's so beautiful. I want you to be successful. >> It's got some cosmetic stuff on it, but it's still structurally in great shape. And it's it's uh it's funny because
Lawrence Thompson built the house and his younger brother who was in his late teens came down from up north and decided he was going to move to Daytona Beach. Had no experience really with any carpentry work at all. He did all the
carvings on all the staircases and everything else in that house. And I guess as he was learning, he did it. But it's it's just it's very warm. It's it's just an incredible feeling. and it's got a lot of character. >> Has the city of Daytona Beach done
anything to help you all? >> They've not done anything against us, [laughter] but uh and they have helped with with the with the police force and and helping keep >> homeless off the properties and stuff. So, yeah, they do they and they do come in and pick up the garbage.
>> Historic homes are left on the peninsula. >> Oh, boy. Well, we've got the one caddy caddy corner that was in pretty bad shape. Yeah. But it's back up. Actually, the the law office on the corner of Peninsula in Silver Beach, that was one of Thompson's houses that he built. I
think that was his house after he sold his Lillian to his daughter. I didn't know Lillian actually had to pay for it, but she had to buy it from her father, but he built that house there. It's been stuckcoed and re, you know, it's outside of it's been changed since then. But they owned a series of homes and they owned property all the way out to the
beach at one time. >> The whole silver beach. You can [clears throat] just say >> Nate, I was on the historic board and there was a survey done historic structures in the city of beach as the most architectural historic
>> it's incredible what's there >> in Florida. >> Yeah. I I was I was active in De Berry Hall when we when the county acquired Deberry Hall and have watched that become a very >> successful historic project
>> and is open to the public and and they do TE's and they do all kinds of events there, but they do have the county back behind them. So, um, I just wish you the best of luck on this one because I know that we that when we had it before us as
county council that our intention then was to see it be successful, to see it represent the history of Daytona Beach and uh, I share Council Member uh, Wagner's passion about this. So, >> no, he was very supportive at the very beginning. Um, I got involved because
the um Nancy Long was was one of the founders of it and she was on the council. I was I was community development director at South Daytona at the time and of course uh you know she was on our council and she said, "John, I got this really neat
little project. You need to get involved with it." And I've been there ever since. [laughter] And she's she has now since kind of pulled back on it. But, uh, yeah, Fran and I have been there pretty much the whole duration of that. So, we've had our supports come and gone, and we've
got to get younger people on the board. We've got to and and what's nice is is the uh uh, Smart Title, the the title company that's handling this. um where actually she's my daughter-in-law, but
she u um has got an younger group of people that have we've had some events there with them. Very interested in the property. We're trying to get it reestablished where we can get more of those people on our board and get a little bit younger blood there because a comment was made earlier about my age and everybody else's and
>> getting older >> and we're not going to be around forever. So, Right. >> and I would love to see this property be around forever. >> Can I ask one question? Um, I I think I heard uh it said that we were not in the acquisition business. Was that a council
decision that made that? Did they say that publicly that we're not in the acquisition business? >> Mr. Dillard, was that recently that you offered to give it to the county or several years ago? >> We talked to to Daniel about it at one
time. I mean, we we were just looking for different options. Actually, what's funny is when we first got Lillian, the board basically there was some naysayers on the board at that time and they said, you know, this will never stand. You won't get five years out of this thing before you're having to sell it or get
it get out of it. So, we've made a pretty good run with it. >> It's been a good run. [laughter] You have. >> Um, but it's been a struggle. >> Yeah. [clears throat] I think of course it would be a policy decision for council, but I given the austerity environment that we're operating in at
this moment, I don't um believe it would be feasible. >> Yeah. The the other concern we had was that it was >> I gotcha. I understand that. But I'm going to ask [laughter] anyway because I think it's something that the council should weigh in on. City of Daytona was was concerned about
all the parks in that area that are maintained by the county and they didn't particularly want another one. >> Any other questions, comments? Pat. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
[clears throat] >> Next one. >> All right. Next one is an actionable item. Uh it involves Halifax Humane Society. This was a 2014 grant for $400,000. Uh also has a restrictive covenant of 40 years. Um this grant has two components
to it. We have the pet services building and we also have the uh public dog park. Um so when Mr. Hawkins took over as CEO, um he actually reached out to me um and we talked about um where they were at in
the process with Ekko. um they wanted to convert the pet services building to a crisis shelter for domestic violence homelessness families, right? Um we actually denied that request. Um they initially turned the pet services
building before he was CEO into a wellness center um which was a compliance issue that they made us aware of. Um so they are now asking um to convert the pet services building um you
know into that but we need to do a scope change first to relieve them of the pet services building and they would still maintain the dog park moving forward. We'll get into the reimbursement uh portion in the next slide but we actually need to do a scope change for
this grant first um in order for for them to proceed um to the next steps. this. >> So, we're changing the use of the pet service building. >> Correct. So, there was two components to the grant. They had the pet services
building. >> Is this for dogs >> and the dog park? >> Yes. So, the the >> I thought I understood that what was happening here, but I don't get this at all. >> So, domestic violence, you know, the dog survivor, not the [laughter] Yes. The dog survivors or cats or whatever
animals that they wanted to take in. So, [laughter] I know what the heck >> I should have specified that in the in the PowerPoint. Um, but it was denied due to not meeting an echo purpose, right? Did not meet one of the four categories of echo. It wouldn't have public access and it violated their
covenant and grant agreement at the time. So, that's why it was denied. So, their request now is to be relieved of their echo obligations for that building, but they will keep the dog park operational. they will maintain it
and keep it a uh fully accessible to the public moving forward. >> So, it's one action item which is scope change on the pet service and the other part >> correct and it'll still follow the same 40-year restrictive covenant.
>> Has a question. >> I actually have a question. So, do we have a precedent already for scope changes or would this actually set the president scope changes? No, it's in our guide book uh that we have scope change policy and procedures. So, this does
follow it. However, um we were not aware that they converted the building originally to a wellness center until Mr. Hawkins came on board. He notified me and said, "Hey, we converted the building." And I said, "You know, you couldn't do that. You needed to go
through the advisory committee into council for a scope change." So, we've worked with them, right? And this is where we're at. So now this is where they this is what they want to do with the building and then we'll get to the action um the compliance issue next because they're willing to pay us back
the amount for that pet services building but we have to do the scope change first. >> Can I ask a question? >> Yes. >> Okay. So I so I want to fully understand this. They stop taking dogs in correct. They're not taking dogs in at all for
adoption. They're no longer an adoption facility. Is that correct? >> That would be a question for the applicant if you'd like. Pat. >> Okay. >> Hawkins is here to answer any questions. >> Okay. Well, could we hear from him? >> Yeah, of course. >> Can you explain exactly what you're do?
Y'all used to be y'all used to take dogs in or they were surrendered or and then you would adopt them out. You're no longer doing that. >> That is not correct. Hi, I'm Sean Hawkins. I'm the chief executive officer for Halifax Humane Society. I've been in the role for the last 20 months. So, I'm
>> Yeah, I know you're new. >> New new to the you new new to the position and certainly the compliance issues with this grant were um um part of my predecessor's history with the organization. Um so uh Halifax Humane
Society has uh been an animal shelter for the last 90 years. We continue to be an animal shelter. We continue to accept owner surrender animals from the general public. We continue to maintain um housing for stray animals for um five
different municipalities within the county. Valuchia County chose not to continue sheltering its stray animals with our organization. But I our shelter is filled with adoptable dogs and cats today. I assure you we remain a public animal shelter.
>> So if you remain a public animal shelter, >> how are you integrating this new service into that? So we the um the color building which is
a standalone building on our property was originally built for a uh a forprofit boarding and grooming operation as >> so that's the building >> that's the building that we're talking about >> talking about. >> Um the building had not been used for
some time when I arrived at the organization. and it was a relatively new, relatively well-maintained small kennel building that was not being used. We were continually being approached by the domestic abuse council
um to help them with temporary placement of animal victims of domestic violence and we um had integrated those pets into the shelter as we had space. That is less than ideal. Um, we typically want
to keep domestic violence victims separate for a lot of reasons. We don't want to expose those owned pets to >> but the human victims were >> these are animal victims. We are only talking about animal victims. >> You're not doing anything. >> We don't have anything to do with with
the human victims. Correct. So the the service that we're proposing that is needed there is actually not housing available for animal victims of domestic violence from Brevard, Flaggler or Valuchia counties. So the entire
contingent three beach county um communities have no services for animal victims. And as as a matter of context, 70% of human victims of domestic violence report that they have animals
in their household. And once those human victims are able to flee, 50% of those people have reported that the abuser >> abuses the animal >> has either killed or threatened to kill or injure the animal, forcing the
families to stay in the abusive environment. So it is a it is a desperately needed service in the community. >> I don't disagree with that at all. We had an empty space and um when we were approached by the domestic abuse council
to provide housing, we thought it was a a brilliant >> But you're not housing the person and the dog together. >> No, humans go to DAC. Humans humans go to domestic abuse counsel. >> They they take care of them and >> and the dogs and cats and other animals
come to us in our care with our veterinary team and our um you know animal care team. and and how long do they stay in your care? >> Initially, we have the agreement that we have the with the domestic abuse council is as long as the family is is in their
system and being managed by a case worker. >> Okay, >> we will continue to provide housing. We provide an initial 30 days, no questions asked. Um the families can come and visit. They can, you know, visit with their dog. They can groom their cat. Our medical team is on top of the day-to-day
care of the animals. When when we're approaching that 30-day mark, we check in with domestic abuse counsel to make sure that the family is still on track. They're trying to find housing, employment, um and of course, our goal is to reunify, >> reunite them,
>> and and all of the animals that have come through the program so far have been reunified with their families. >> Thank you. That was excellent. >> It is confusing. So, I'm glad you asked the question. Thank you. >> I just have a quick question. Now, part of this need is that because of the
shelters not having space to take both the families and the animals simultaneously or is it a separate issue? Okay. So, that is the primary >> and and I'll point out there's also issues you the the county is probably most familiar in in um disaster response
efforts. There are a whole series of issues that then are on the table when you try and colllocate human victims of a disaster or domestic abuse situation along with animal victims.
Health code, veterary care, all kinds of stuff comes into play. So when we're able to separate, we do the thing that we're really good at and that's taking care of the dogs and cats and the domestic abuse council can do the thing that they're really good at, which is providing emergency housing for human
families who are needing assistance. >> Okay. So yeah, I just want to make sure that that was top of mind as well because that is a definite need and knowing that domestic violence victims do typically have animals and the housing situations when it comes to even
homeless, you don't really have access to shelters that have animal capacity sometimes and then you put in the domestic violence issues on top of it like what you mentioned. There is I definitely see the need and I respect the efforts but I do understand where we
came from with not being able to approve it. >> And I just wanted so then it's the domestic violence aspect that restricts public access because in any domestic violent housing you do not have public access. So am I understanding because public
access was one of the big issues here. So that is why this the color building that that's the name of the building is a is a perfect setup for this. It is actually a separate >> building on our campus. It's entirely fenced. It does I mean we have had the
doors open because when it was originally the boarding and grooming center it was available to the public but it is completely segregated and can be restricted from any access. >> I just want to make sure I for Thank you. That's why we don't want them in the the animals in the shelter
environment because that is public access. >> Any other questions for Mr. Hawkins? >> Ask a couple of questions. Um sir, >> when was the last time this facility was inspected that it was in compliance? Do you have a record on that at all? >> Daniel might. I do not.
>> Well, I just I'm wondering if the count if the Echo staff had has a record on that [snorts] because I'm just troubled. I'm very troubled by the fact that you had to let Echo know that you were not in comp. I'm wondering when the last time was that we saw that it was in compliance. >> So, we went out we went out two months
prior in 2023 and there was no compliance findings, no issues. Okay. Right. >> Right. >> We weren't supposed to visit for another >> three years. >> Three years. Right. Right. >> Couple months after um >> we didn't we weren't aware when he took over. He made a phone call, reached out,
said, "Hey, I wanted the grant. I wanted uh the restrictive covenant. I wanted to learn a little bit more about Ekko and build the relationship. So, we started communication and >> he was very transparent and he made me aware. >> Yeah, I admire the fact >> made me aware of that. So, then we met up. I went out to the facility. We
toured it >> and we tried working together >> and this is where we're at today. >> So, it is it's a requirement, Doug, that they notify us if there's changes to their scope because we only go out every three years. So, if they have a change to their scope, they're required to
notify us. And the previous CEO did not do that. That is correct. Apparently, >> we had a series of a 2-year period with four CEOs. It was a pretty um chaos. >> I'd follow the papers. I know. >> Okay. So, I um that is not the case now. >> Yeah.
>> And I'm not going anywhere. So, um we are we are investing in programs that serve the community and this is a need in the community. >> Daniel, let me ask you this. What happens? What is the course of action if the scope change u fails? If it's not voted affirmatively,
>> um, council will make that decision uh, January 20th. >> Okay. >> That's when it goes. All of these items go January 20th. >> Okay. >> But now, don't don't we have some respect? >> You guys have to make the action to approve the scope change first, then we
would take, >> right? So, if that fails, what then is the is the scope is the is the course of action? Whatever your recommendation would be would still go to county council. So if you vote to not approve the scope change, the council would consider that
and do whatever the council deemed appropriate. >> Okay. Okay. >> Thank you. >> You can I just ask one question? >> Yes. >> Okay. is Chan,
>> you you have worked out this arrangement with the county staff. Is that correct? You're comfortable with what with what has come before us? >> Yes, ma'am. I made the Daniel and I working together made the recommendation. Yes. And and inclusive of the domestic abuse council.
>> So, we're we're all >> You can handle all you >> Yes, ma'am. >> because I know you have some benefactors. Okay. Yes, ma'am. >> Let let me just state why I asked the question I just asked because I'm sure you're puzzled and everybody up here is like gasp when I said that.
>> I'm a little disturbed about the fact that an organization failed to comply with the grant requirements when they were given a lot of money, a lot of money from the taxpayers of this county. And so I'm not a real vocal proponent
of rearranging the loan or rearranging things for somebody that didn't comply. I know you're new, but 20 months, quite frankly, is not really new, but I guess in the corporate world, it probably is. So, I'm I'm you're going to have to sell me on this this thing today because I'm
just concerned that we're restructuring the loan or the echo grant or whatever how right to comply with with you. And again, it's you're you're a new person and a new guy, but it's the organization that bothers me. the fact that that we
gave this organization taxpayer money and I will continue to stress that and they and they basically just, you know, gave us a raspberry on it. You know, we're not going to comply. It doesn't matter and we're not going to report it and, you know, so what if it's taxpayer money? I don't operate like that. I
think it's very important that it's taxpayer money and, you know, we we need to be sure we're handling that properly. So, >> if I may, there there's actually two parts to this entire thing. The scope change approval is the first part, but they have voluntarily offered to
partially repay that portion of the echo grant to reimburse the taxpayers for the scope change if it's approved. >> Yeah, they're they're paying us the full amount back for the pet services building. >> I get that. >> Yes, sir.
>> I still breaily when I look at organization part of >> if I may comment briefly, sir. So, um I cannot speak to previous bad acts of the organization. Um I can tell you that I
was hired to come in and fix them. Um I bring a significant nonprofit background to the table, including being a certified professional fundraiser, which has a whole code of ethical requirements. Um, I have been leading the organization through
transformational change that includes incredible leaps forward with our transparency that were not in place previously. Um, we are now certified by Guidear and certified by Charity Navigator. You can go to our website and
see our 990s, our audited financial statements. You can see our statements regarding transparency. Our board members are published on our website. all things that um were not in the best of shape when I arrived. Um I I can
again cannot I'm I'm not looking back. I'm telling you where I'm taking the organization. This is a a desperately needed service in the community. And um we are making the taxpayer whole by paying back in full the proportional
amount of the grant that was expended to um you know create the original grant agreement. >> Thank you for that. And I I said I just feel like it's necessary to say what I said because that's whose money we're dealing with. >> I I understand and I'm in the same boat
with you know with with grantors. Um you know we we have you know multiple um you know uh corporate and private foundations that have invested in our organization over time that I'm also making sure that we are in compliance
with and completely transparent with how we use donor funds. If we have made a misstep then we offer to repay those donor funds. Very very aware of the obligation to the taxpayer and the community. >> Very good. Be successful. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. >> Okay, we do need a motion on this one. >> Correct. >> I'll make a motion to uh approve the scope change for health. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I.
>> Any opposed? Same sign. >> Motion carries. Thank you. >> All right. I won't spend much time on this one then. This is them offering to pay back the full amount for the pet services building um which is $186,539.
They will still maintain and operate the dog park and through the restrictive covenant of I think 2054 is when it runs out. So they're going to continue to do that. They've already spent between 30 and $40,000 to improve uh some of the
amenities at the dog park. >> [snorts] >> updates. >> I do have a question. Is the dog park open to any citizen to bring their dog over? Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. And I'll add that both times all the time. >> Both times that I've been out there, it was tons of dogs out there. So, [clears throat] >> all right. So, now we'll jump into the uh quarterly reports. Reminder, this is July through September. Um, you know, so
this is as of September 30th. Um, these are the reports for the grants and aids projects. Um, I'll take any questions if you have them on these projects. All right. If not, I will move into our direct county expenditure quarterly
reports. I I'm looking at a couple here that have the full amount unexpended and I guess the one the Stson Lake Bar understanding that correctly that that's the full amount nothing is expended yet.
>> Uh correct. So for Stson uh they got their uh but they finally got their permit from their Army Corps of Engineers. So they can now start the construction process. Um so they haven't spent anything yet. Um the construction process started in November. So the next
report you'll probably see uh an increase in percentage as well as some money spent there. >> And the same is true of city of Derry. They were in the process of getting permits. I want to make sure I understand what's going on. uh which one for Deberry Alexander Island. Um that
project is still out for bid and they're obtaining permits as well for their wetland. So I'm sure they're going through the same process of the Army Corps of Engineers at this point. >> And just a comment on um Valuchia Flagger YMCA, the Deltona YMCA feels I
don't know, I can't remember who all was able to get out there when they unveiled them, but you should go see them. This is a great project and I I can remember what it was like when my kids used to play there, but now it is a great project and Vince Cers is doing a good
job back there with this was money well spent. >> Okay, I'll move on to the uh direct county expenditure projects. I have a question and it not exactly to do with this but I noticed on the council agenda there's a study coming up
uh I think the next board meeting on the motocross track and has it also been expanded to include UTVs and ATV riding also? >> We'd like it to. Yes. If if the operator so chooses. So, there is a space on our
conceptual plan that we presented to council that has some trails on it. >> Good. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. You've >> already you've already expended 2,37 >> correct for acquisition of the property. Oh, I thought that was other funds.
Okay, thank you. >> No, that's part of the 3.5. >> That was the payback to Valuchia Forever, correct? >> No, the the property was 4.6. So, Forever paid 2.3 and um Echko paid 2.3. >> Okay, that's right. Thank you.
We paid for the part that wasn't going to be >> You paid for the part that was disturbed, right? >> So, the intact wetlands is what Forever Bought. Um, and the disturbed part was already, you know, um, clear-cut is what Ekko paid for for the outdoor recreation
piece. >> And, you know, I'm disturbed. >> Yeah. [laughter] Me, too. >> Well, and I'd have to disagree because I think it's one of the best uses we could do. Do you realize there's a place in north of here that on every, not every weekend, but quite often a month, they
took a thousand acres up in Putham County. It generates almost a half a million dollars every weekend that it's open. If the county could do something like that in here, it'd be a great great thing to have. And it'll never have houses on it. And down the road, if it doesn't become viable, guess what? We
have again woods. So, there's two sides to every story, >> but it's in the middle of the conservation corridor. That's my concern. If they want to put it somewhere else, I'm happy to do that. It's location for me. Any
other questions about any other projects? >> Okay. Update DC plan. >> Yep. All right. So, Brad's going to take this one. >> Yeah. So, as part of our the strategic planning process, um you guys have um
and we've heard it from you, too, you know, that the DCE um program needs some tweaks. And so, you know, today, this has not been approved by council. We're here to kind of discuss the handbook um and the projects that we're we're bringing before you today. So, we're
going to it's like a dry run is to uh we want your feedback um on on the projects and there is a if you read the DCE handbook, there will be a staff committee that looks at them. We will require applications now that we'll be
able to post on the web page. There is a web page dedicated to direct county expenditure that explains it and has a list of all of the projects. They're also included on our transparency dashboard. So we we've taken multiple
steps to to make the DC more transparent. Um and part of that is you know getting your feedback before it's evaluated at the staff level. So, um, that's why today we have a couple projects for you to review and dry run
kind of just what your comments are on them. The the committee will well it may not be a committee but the projects will be ranked when they get to council now. So, the direct county expenditure projects will be ranked and you know we have
committed to grant recipients that we will always have enough money for grants. So if there's a year where we have elevated grant amount then the DCE will >> Brad I'm sorry that's not approved by council yet. So you can't >> the [snorts] the resolution does not provide for that. So what is in the
handbook is a suggestion. Everything there is a suggestion just for discussion. >> Correct. >> So um the resolution for DCE is completely under counselor's purview. Grants and aids are under yours. So this is because you do grants and aids. We're
having this discussion >> for a potential uh use of DCE process. >> So So in other words, the council could say we're not doing this. We're we're not including the echo board on this. Is that what I understand? Where this is a
dry run? >> That is so the the the resolution as it sits today does not provide for all of this oversight for DCE. So what we're trying to do is make sure we have all of our eyes dotted and tees crossed and go
through this, you know, how it would be so that we are fully prepared to present to council. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. So there was two there is two projects. um the ocean center project
which we'll cover as well as the Wil Wilbur boat house that we did ask for uh some feedback and discussion on. But before we go into that, let me just give you a high level update of what the January uh DCE plan is at this point.
Um, so there is one adjustment to the plan currently. Um, that is to move Sunsplash Park um, up to fiscal year 26, the year we're in from fiscal year 29 due to safety concerns. Um, we've been doing we still do our compliance with
our direct county expenditure projects, too. And, um, you know, due to the salt water near, you know, the beach there with this park, uh, it just needs some amenities and some upgrades. There's some safety concerns. So, we're going to increase that project from 250,000 to
500,000, put a brand new playground there. Um, we are asking for an additional $1.5 million to phase two of the Valuchia County uh fairgrounds project. And then we do have two new projects um that are going into the
plan, which would be the Ocean Center rigging project as well as the Wilbur Boat House improvements and ADA upgrades. So, here is the uh funding request. um to these four projects. Um the total was
about $5.8 million. [clears throat] >> Question, what's the uh the phase two on the fairgrounds? What's that involve? >> Yes, sir. So, I I'll take that one. So, um one of the standalone projects for
Echo is green infrastructure. So, low impact development. So, what we're doing there is the just finished the first phase of the fairgrounds where we did permeable pavers, some bio retention. Um, if you went out at the fair, you saw
that we had now paved all of the midway. Um, it's got curbing on it. It looks very nice. The Hester Dowy building, when we had the master plan completed, our consultants from UF said the Hester Dowy building were warehouses in a
field. Um, and they were right. So, but we put some storefront windows in them. The rollup doors now are glass. We've increased insulation. So, that was phase one. Um, phase two, uh, will be bringing back some of the historic elements of
the 1914 fairground that was adjacent to Amtrak station. >> Okay. >> So, that was where the original fairgrounds was. This this board actually asked um to consider doing some sort of replica entrance. matching what 1914
entrance looked like. So that is part of phase two. Um continuing to improve the sustainability of the buildings at the fairgrounds, namely Hester Dowy buildings. Um if you've gone out there
today, notice the large AC units are on the east side of the of the midway, which doesn't make sense. So, we're moving those to the west side and put a shaded structure adjacent to uh so it's like almost like a porch where people
could sit and have some shaded area on the fairgrounds. The unique aspect of that is that those will be solar. The roofs of those things will be solar. So, hopefully they will um save some operational dollars. Um so, that's kind
of um where we are right now for phase two. question on that phase two. Those structures [clears throat] are not hurricane storm welder >> storm shelter compliant, are they? >> No.
>> Are wouldn't that be a better use of money to try to make those where we because we do use those as a as a storm shelter in hurricanes. It's a big deal out there, you know, when trucks and people come in rather than having a a flag pole or a fancy gate. So we we use
the the the fairgrounds buildings proper. So the ones that were updated in 98 are the storm shelter. Hester Dowy are not used. >> Okay. >> Yes sir. >> Could we you I mean shouldn't we use them? Do we have enough space? >> They're not rated for her for storms.
The Hester Darity buildings and we we still you know my team is the one who runs that shelter with with Ronnie and we've still got plenty of room. >> Okay. I'm just concerned. And the uh other question on the entrance where now where is the entrance going to go in at? Right. >> Yeah, that's good.
>> We're we're going to work that out with the partners, you know. Um we actually met this week with our we did a a bid process for an architectural and engineering firm um that we've worked with before. And we're going to have
some pre meetings to kind of talk about, you know, how do we protect future access at the fairgrounds because it will apparently there's some updating to exits along I4 which will affect us. Yeah. >> Well, that's what I was kind of wondering because I've sat through
several meetings now with potential de developers out there between the fairgrounds and the interstate and you know the access is a big question and the access seems to always you know they have it different places and I'd hate to see us spend a lot of money and find out that that's all going to be revamped and
I'm just concerned that we're maybe getting ahead of the >> So I will say Bentley who is our firm that's working with us is actually the one who told us about what DOT was planning to do in the next three years. So, um they have their hand on the pulse of what's going on out there
>> with you mean with the development or what what do wants to do? >> What do wants to do to improve those exits? >> You mean not where they won't be a high-speed interchange anymore? I >> I don't they didn't elaborate, but we'll sit down with the stakeholders. that
that is part of one of the things that we're doing as part of phase 2 is sitting down and and coming up with a conceptual plan for phase two and three that we all can agree on including access. Good luck. [laughter] Thank you.
Thank you for the vote of confidence. >> [clears throat] >> I will say there was an access point on prevat that we everyone all the stakeholders agreed on for the master plan >> there [laughter] they haven't agreed >> they have they did >> oh they did agree for the
>> been there forever that's excellent point >> well this is more for the the access the property on the against the freeway against I4 >> oh okay okay I I just want to And this is really a great project that these fairgrounds get
used by everybody and they're strategically placed and I applaud the fact that you all brought this forward. This is one project that I think needs to be done and I'm happy to see it go forward. I understand your concerns [laughter]
um because that area is changing radically and in a short time they're now talking about all kinds of development on the northwest northwest. us a truck stop. Boy, won't we be uptown? Gateway of Dand will have a nice truck stop. >> Yeah. So, so I but I am confident that
the staff is on top of that and and you all have done some really great things out there. I was out there in in uh December for a a Christmas show and it was really really nice. It was nice. So, congratulations on that. >> Thank you. One of the things that we've done is we tried to make it also a green
infrastructure demonstration area. So, if you're out there, you'll see signs that have echo on them, but also are teaching the people, teaching people who visit the fairgrounds, um the innovative ways that you can, you know, increase decrease your impact when developing.
And so, >> we're still working with university out there. Correct. They're part of this project. >> Yes, ma'am. Um and so I think the the kind of theme is where tradition meets innovation uh for the fairgrounds is what we're trying to do. I just applaud
the fact you're putting shade there. [laughter] >> It's needed. It's needed. >> I would encourage anybody on Wednesday mornings to come out to the farmers market out there. It's the new and improved version.
>> Ma'am. >> All right. Moving on to the Ocean Center project. Uh this request is uh $4 million. uh they are doing 20% match from the ocean center capital fund of 800,000. Uh this project uh will be an addition of acoustic panels in the arena
to optimize sound for live performances. Installation of arena curtain system to block the upper bowl as well as a supplemental steel trust added to the arena to create a more efficient and effective rigging grid. Um some structural safety elements for use for
for rigging. uh a remodel of the arena green rooms as well as a conversion of the mezzanine meeting room space um for the VIP suite uh for concerts and uh Lynn is here and her team from the Ocean Center to answer any questions if you
have about this project. [clears throat] >> I have one question. >> Will there be a general contractor handling all these points? >> Yes. Yes, it will be a general contractor and it will be bid out through the RFP process for the county. >> Okay. But that has you've not done that
yet? >> No. No, we're waiting on today's decision. Yes. >> There's no decision to be made today. This is purely discussion. >> Today's presentation relating to discussion. >> How do we get here? How do we get to the to a place where we're doing all the
stuff at one time and we still have not addressed, in my opinion, some of the safety features. I was out there for graduation a year ago and the nosebleleed section does not have rails to help you up and down. And I I've
talked I talked to to you all about not you, but I've talked to staff about that. and and yet this is this is all good. I don't have a problem. But I'm curious about how we got to where we are. This building is is old and have we
not been updating it as we go along or what is the intention of the ocean center? >> So we first and foremost I want to say thank you all for for allowing us to even present this and I I think it's amazing that Valuchia County has echo
coming from other counties. I I compliment everyone. The day that I arrived and found out about it, I was like, "What are you kidding me?" So, it's it's great what what we do here as a county, and I'm proud to be part of this county and to represent that. Um, to answer your question specifically, we
uh have a new floor and new seats. The new seats will address the the railing. day, week two probably when Kate and I went on our first walk through, you know, where are the railings, where's the lighting, where's this, and we immediately we immediately started working on it. Um, and the county was
very open to that. So, you know, George and Suzanne have been nothing but, you know, what what do we need to do and very open-minded with uh with the improvements that we've that we've recommended. Um, I think it's important to note, and I would like to note this for just a second if I can. I brought a
couple of our 40-year uh annual reports and >> thank you. If you if you turn to page 25, you're going to see what when the county had the vision to say we're going to open an ocean center, a convention center, an
arena, what that meant. Um the why of any o any arena, any convention center is truly economic catalyst for the community that it serves. We have fulfilled that mission. The county has fulfilled that emission since
1985. Um it has provided, if you look at page, we're looking for it, but page 25, over $2 billion in economic impact. um in Valuchia County. This past year alone, the number was um hold on, let me I left my card up there and I was
waiting for that to see, but the number this year alone was about $126 million in economic impact with over a thousand jobs that are created and supported in Valuchia County from the activities that go on at the Ocean Center. So, the Ocean Center literally serves as an community
asset that is an economic catalyst for Valuchia County. Um we don't receive money from the general funds but we do contribute back to the general fund through uh sales tax which this year was around close I think 1.6 million. I I
need my I have again let me wait a minute. Hold on just a second. I think I have it right here. Took a picture in case this didn't work. Um let me get there and give you some exact numbers. But anyway, um, so that said, we do serve our mission for the county to
provide the economic catalyst and to provide the jobs and to provide the sales tax return. So, the investments that we continue to make is is making reinvesting and making investments back into a county asset that literally serves to to uh serve the community. um
you have the annual report before you and hopefully we'll get those numbers up. But looking through that um this past year um when I came I was hired and it was very clear from the uh from the dis uh the day that I was uh not guess sworn in but the day that I was um
approved that um returning entertainment back to the the Ocean Center was a priority for Troy Kent, for several others, for for Matt. And so we started working on that and we have made very strategic decisions of where we would
spend the money that we have based on support of the arena and getting it back to uh to to being the functioning arena that it was back in 1985. So a lot of what you uh are looking at is literally
replacing uh or renovating or updating 1985 original uh investments in the building. Here's the here's the numbers I was talking about. Our earned revenue for this past year was 11.3 million. We had over 471,000 people that came to the
Ocean Center. Um what really is important and where you get the economic drive in the community is that we had 77,000 event driven lodging nights. So people came to our facility and spent 77,000 nights in the hotels in that area. um which then generates the
tourist development tax which our portion was 16.9 million. Um then the overall Valuchia County uh economic impact was 126 million. Um if you look at what really I'm most proud of for the
county is that we've since opening we've hosted over 3,500 events with over a $2 billion economic impact um into the county. And then if you start looking and go over to the statewide um you know you can start looking at the benefit
even for the state um with and then the jobs created like I said at over a thousand and then um sales tax that went back to general fund. There we go. It's 1.9 million. I thought 1.6 but 1.9. So that's just a snapshot that I wanted you all to see that when you're making this
you or you're considering these uh for recommendation that it literally is investing money back into uh the building into the structure that will then turn around and generate more economic impact for the county. Uh the
your your question of the of the railing it it will be taken care of in uh March or April this year. The lighting has already been um updated. We just completed the lighting project and uh new seats and so we and new flooring. So
that was a $10 millionish dollar project that we have are finishing in I think it April 1stish for the completion date. So good point Pat because I um I noted the the same thing when
>> Yes. Well, so how long have you been on staff there? >> Two years. >> Okay. So, thank you for coming in and and taking over a dumpster fire. And at this point right now, I really think that you're you're doing a tremendous job making a silks purse out of a sal's
ear, but my concern is how much there's how much there is to do because, you know, I think there's things that we don't even talk about at this point. The parking garage, my understanding is has not been maintained and and it's going to need millions of dollars worth of work. the floor that you just talked
about that originally went into budget at 1.5 million and it ended up being four, wasn't it? Wouldn't it? Wasn't that something like that? >> Okay. So, look, I mean, I'm 100% supportive of you because I believe in what Troy Camp believes and that is that that's this facility has sat, you know, dormant and
not fulfilled its function. I mean, when you got people that are going to St. Augustine to an amphitheater up there instead of staying here for entertainment, that's we're losing money. We're losing dollars that way. tourist dollars and the fact that we, you know, we book in one cheerleading convention a year and a weightlifting
convention and, you know, just wasn't making it to me. So, I'm I'm 100% behind you here. My concern is with this proposal, the $4 million thing is, is it [clears throat] enough? And my my question is, you know, where did that money where did that dollar figure come
from? Where did the $4 million figure come from? And if it's for as as it's titled here, rigging. >> Um my concern is you know you know what was the was was a request for for proposal put out on this project. Is that where the 4 million's coming from?
Are we complying with county rules? My understanding is the county rules is you can't put a request for proposal out until there's money available. Is that accurate? >> That no no request for proposal has been issued. But >> so where did this $4 million? >> We've worked with industry professionals to come up with estimates. the industry
professional. You worked with a structural engineer was engineers. Okay. >> Theater theater projects probably the best in the probably in the world >> and they are with for the rigging. >> So um we have our Danny Whmer um you may be aware that we went under contract
with Danny Whmer uh a few months ago and Danny Whmer who was awarded the polestar promoter agent of the year. They're our consultants as well now on board helping us with this. So we've used industry standards. They're not hard to find. So, of what this would require, but uh for
the rigging, we had them uh theater projects when they part of their uh their TA or their their project with us was to draw the plans and then provide an estimate of what we would be looking at um for the rigging and the structural safety component.
>> Talking about an older building, right? I mean, this is an old building that's going to need, my understanding would be need a lot of structural work to bring it up to speed to handle the kind of shows and so forth that we want to put in there. Is that right? I mean, my my question would be, are we going to come
back? I mean, for I'm I'm all for give you the $4 million go to work. Is that going to be enough or is this project going to in the end be 10 times that amount? >> We have money that's in our capital budget now to address uh some of the structural items. uh the uh substations
like the power substations that are original to the building that we need to power the building and to power uh new con concerts whatnot. Those are those are uh scheduled for this year. So the the county we we had a $40 million uh
and if you heard us if you heard anything about it 40 million 40 years and part of the $40 million is 10 million was for the seats and for the floor. Um another basically 10 million was to answer for the garage which has already started the garage project. Um in fact uh the garage was one of the
first items that we really went out to bid with and started because of what your comment not your comments but those comments have been made. So again, um you know, upon arrival, George and Suzanne were both here's >> here's some issues and we need to get
started taking care of them and we origin we immediately started. So a lot of it has been behind the scenes. Um, we're replacing structural louvers around the building, things, you know, that might have been damaged in storms in the past or hurricanes, but we are bringing the building up to up to date
and uh I'm very confident in the numbers that we gave you along with what we are putting in ourselves will bring us to where we can all be proud of of a refreshed building without any type of major expansion or major tear down, rebuild.
>> Yeah. I mean, I live at the beach. salt water and salt air is brutal on on, you know, on on material, right? So, the idea that, you know, you're you're going to get it to where it needs to be. I just want to make sure you're you're going to get the resources you need to make this thing work because it really does need to work because it it could I
mean, that whole lighted area down there could be driven by that center. And we've let it just sit and it's set for so long, you know, and go to the Peabody, that's fine. You know, I've been there for several shows recently, but you know, we just need to make sure that this ocean center is going to do the job. And I appreciate the task that
you >> share your sentiment having [laughter] come from a top 30 worldwide polestar organization that uh literally started from the first bulldozer that that dug it down. I'm right there with you. And I love hearing I love hearing the support of the community for that.
>> Yeah. >> Just just I'm going to go back to a question I had asked. just tell me, did we maintain this building? And I I agree with Doug. I I I'm going to support it. I think we need to do it. >> But there's a sense out there that perhaps we didn't maintain this building
the way we should have in the beginning that has now created this need. Are these new items or are these uh are we fixing something? >> We're we're refreshing. >> We're refreshing. Yes. So, yeah. So, you know, restrooms that were part uh
>> Lynn, I think she's talking about the rigging. So, the rigging is is to meet the new demands of shows, correct? >> Yes. Yes. Exactly. >> That's the new piece. >> It's the new demand. It's the new industry standard. >> But the rest of it, I mean, the building there used to be, God, I forget what the
what the private room was called, but it was named after somebody years ago. >> Clyde man suite. >> Thank you. That is changing. That is being upgraded. Yes. >> Okay. Is there a reason why we didn't do those things previously? I guess is what I'm trying to get to.
>> Well, whenever the the building the arena, which is what we're focusing on right now, um whenever it went bad shape >> dark for, you know, it was built in 1985 and it went dark to the entertainment industry in like 0910. >> And now whenever we said, "Okay, we want to be back in that game."
>> Yeah. Because we used to do entertainment there, >> right? Yes. And then we then we stopped for a while and u and now we're back. And again, I I am proud to work for Valuchia County and the vision that you know everyone has for returning it and restoring it to what we what we planned
for it to be how it used to be. >> One other thing that I heard recently is that and I talked to Suzanne about this. I think I talked to her about it. Um the TDC tax is under fire in Tallahassee. I know that was last year that was they
were discussing that nothing came of it but I'm hearing >> from a council member >> that that might be coming back and that's a concern. Are you hearing anything about that? >> No, I am will be in Tallahassee in two weeks a TDT will be discussed through
the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association. It is a big focus of that association. >> It was because of of Orange County. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. There's a lot. Yes. That's a It's a whole another a whole another subject in itself with Danny. Just maybe asked Danny this question, but
>> this is Brandon. I'm sorry. >> Yeah, that's okay. Um, so the the the hit has been that we can't get entertainment acts in here or things like the the car show or whatever like that because it's so difficult to access an egress out of Daytona Beach. Is that
I know you're you're running Rockville. Is that right? You're the promoter. >> Yeah, we do. Welcome to Rockville and then Yeah. So my question would be, are we going to be able to get the acts in here that make this thing, you know, a viable, vibrant type of operation again? >> You mean getting them in as far as being putting them in the room like for their functions?
>> Well, yeah. I mean, just is are we going to become attractive to name named acts that you know that again, like I said, are are the word I've heard is it's tough to come in and out of Daytona Beach. People don't want to come here. It's easier to go to Orlando. It's easier to go to other places. >> I think that with with our help, we
we're already working on that now. We've got an event that'll be announced probably here in the next couple of weeks. And then I spent I spent a good deal of time since probably I actually produced a show in that room in June of 2024 when I was at the previous I had some challenges on that day and I
think that conversation and the company I worked for at the time actually had planned to do other events in in the room and >> yeah, >> I don't want to see that happen. And then so what we're what we're looking to do, oh, sorry. What we're looking to do is come in is in terms of the rigging, I've been doing this for 28 years and uh
and like you said, the shows nowadays take a little bit more. Um they come with more production and the rigging in there is is not it's not terrible. They're 24 foot spans in the beams. That's a little hard to rig with with today's time. You're doing bridles. You're losing the the footage and the
height that you need. It's already at 47 48 feet I think is what it is at now. um then you're losing three to five feet on top of that. So even the show that I did there in the in the in June of 2024, I was like this is this is a challenge like this is you know uh we had to lower our stage down. We had to redo our rigging plots. Not something that's very
attractive with tours and the word gets out of the industry, you know, hey this is this is a problem to do this ducha. So I think coming in the or the the plan that the [snorts] the theater company that's looked at the rigging plots adding in some beams in between the current bays solves a great deal of the
issues and then they're adding some more in the center in the center portion so you can do some in the round events and then uh there was a couple of u there's no fall arrest system in there. So from a rigger standpoint when you're dealing with a rigging team um there's a safety there's a safety issue there. So you now you got to put in a fall arrest system
which is part of that plan I believe as well. and um and one speeds up the process. Two, it's obviously safety and meets industry standards and uh uh and it decreases the amount of time that a rigger needs to be up there and the amount of numbers of people that we need to do the rigging. That's, you know, 40
points, 32 points. I think I'm looking at a 32 point show right now, which is the way it's going to be. Yeah. As it sits right now, it's going to take a 10-hour day to rig that building. Once we get it back to the fall arrest system and add some of the the rigging and the steel in there, we're looking at a 4-hour day. >> Yeah. for that just that portion
>> and your feeling is we can attract the kind of acts that we we're going to want to have in there >> 100%. >> Okay. >> Taylor Swift [laughter] >> when she's on her downline, which is probably not going to happen. >> Taylor Swift, I have a couple questions. [laughter] >> Question. Yeah.
>> What What will your seating capacity be? >> 75 right at 7500 with >> 7500. And and also is there plans in there to have any kind of like a a jumbotron or TV screen because most shows you go to now you can't see the the people up there. You're so far away and so most time you have a big screen
or something of high definition up there that you can >> uh it's not as good as if you just stayed home and watched it on TV with a good sound system. But hey, I'm at a live show. So it you know [clears throat] >> so so typically what we'll so the shows we bring in have an upstage video wall that's that's a traveling thing. So that's not they do bring their own
video. That's something that would come in with the touring package. >> I got you. >> Mhm. >> So, I have a couple questions over here. >> Um, so you guys mentioned that you want to achieve a 90% or higher performer satisfaction rating. Where are we at right now?
>> Do we know any >> Well, our one our one [laughter] >> was >> our one person who traveled through probably gave me a C at best that night. And I even said to him, "Bring it on. I'm watching this for the first time myself." um here and I said I I'm have
thick skin and all we want to do is be the best in the industry. We may not be the biggest, but I can guarantee you before um before I leave, we will we will be known as the best arena in in Florida if or maybe hopefully in the
southeast again. I have a little bit of competitiveness in me from that having literally created a 30 a top 30 poll star. So I think we share that right in the right paper. Yes. Yes. Exactly. And Jeff Dunham was here last January and he we're looking forward to having him again. He said in
two years so we'd be 27. But I will tell you some of the exciting what is exciting right now. Um you may have seen that we have uh have full throttle that will be here in February. I don't know if you all have seen that. Uh we are we're very excited that uh they are
working with NASCAR. This is the first time in I don't know a very very long time if if ever that anyone has gone up against you know a race night with any kind of event over and and their ticket sales are are you they're fairing well they're not as uh I think they had hoped
for 20 plus thousand but and we probably won't reach that but we are reaching a satisfactory number for that and we're working with them. Um we are also starting something for the community. Again I just have commitment to the community because we are a community
asset. So we are working with um locals mix if you all are familiar with them to create some free events in the building for uh s for our uh county or you can be any anybody to come see it. But we're calling them the diving board sessions.
And so we will be um offering a stage once a month for um singer songwriters in Valuchia County and it is Jured through local mix. If you all know Lorie Sandman is part of her group and uh they will come and they will perform and it's
we're hoping to create sort of a a Bluebird Cafe from Atlanta and Eddie's Attic just something that gives people in the community to kind of come and just hear what Valuchia County has. Um, that's one of our one of our projects. We also have our second year with Chords
on the Coast, which was another something that we met with uh someone in the community and said, "Hey, singer songwriters, what are you doing?" And so, Chords on the Coast is will be here in March. And then we have an event that um working with uh Danny Whmer's group
that they will be announcing soon um for another event in May. Um, we're also working right now with the veteran services to have a concert um in November for uh veterans. There is a group called Resilience. If you have not
seen them, I would encourage you to go online and look at them. They're Wounded Warriors and they recently played at the halftime show for the 49ers. And when we heard that, we're like, what can we get them? And it's just so they have a Valuchia County connection. So, um, we're excited to be able to host that
and in honor for for the veterans. Um, we also from an Echo standpoint, uh, again, knowing how much I love that the county has Echo, um, we have our Echo Gallery and we've really pumped up, if you haven't been, we've really elevated the, uh, the the gallery openings
whenever we do the galleries and really creating a more elo little mini cocktail gayla thought to it. But one of the things that we're going to be doing is we're going to start tying concerts to the theme of the year. So if we do an environmental um uh gallery, then we're
going to have some environ working with Danny group pull in some environmental artists that may even just play in the ballroom like smaller again free to the community type of concerts. If we did black history, some roots, some jazz roots, some some hip-hop, some something
like that. So really tying the theme and promoting Echo at the same time that we're promoting this type of concert series. So from a community standpoint, the Echo series, the uh Diamond Board sessions, and then from more of a national and the veterans, and then from more of a national stage, the um the
medium rare, the full throttle concert, and then working with uh Danny and his crew on pulling in some of the some of the um the top artists that we want. And we need to be, and I think Brandon will agree, we need to be prepared when they're here. We can't afford them to go
off and say, that's what I told Brandon that night. I said, "You tell me. You don't have to tell anybody else, but you tell me what we need to do and we're going to fix it." And so again, we started with that with that commitment. And a lot of it was from Brandon's friendship to let it when they said
Brandon now works for uh Danny Whmer. I'm like that is fantastic because he had just wonderful uh constructive comments for us of how we could improve. So now I feel like we've got him as part of our as just an extension of our team. So it's really exciting for all of us.
>> Thank you, Lynn. Um committee doesn't have any further questions. We'll move on. Actually, I do have some questions. >> Have some questions. Okay, >> I have a lot of questions. Um, number one, uh, I went back. Number one, thanks guys
for asking me to do my homework. So, of course, I've underlined and gone through like every single page in the book and trying to see how things because I wanted to fill out my comment card correctly.
And I just found a lot of problems to be honest with you. I certainly support the ocean center and everything, but you know, it says that it's a $40 million project. In the paper, it said that this was all going to be paid for from uh the
ocean center reserves and tourist development tax uh dollars, which I think is a great idea. Um but as I started going through uh the DCE program handbook, for instance, on page two
under category eligibility specific requirements, it says must provide unrestricted public access and use. And nothing about this is uh unrestricted public access or use. The public will be
paying to do everything uh to go to these events. Now, I was really glad to hear Oh, I'll speak up. Uh, I was really glad to hear, is it Lynn? Thank you. I was really glad to hear when you started talking about these uh community
programs and things because I do feel for us to support this program that we do need to see some uh free community events, not just paid events for people. And so that that jumped out first and
then when I looked at the application like now we're doing these special funding considerations and we all agreed that phase one phase 2 is a really good idea but I didn't see anything in here that actually the applicants should be submit an initial
application requesting funds exclusively for professional design and engineering services. I didn't see that in this request. I just see $4 million with a match of $800,000. So, I was looking for the uh the phase
one phase 2, which the information we've received does not include that. Um the other thing I was looking at is the match. This 800,000's coming out of the Ocean Center Capital uh fund. Uh how much money is in that
fund? Where is that fund? We've never heard of that fund. We're all sitting here talking about how nice this will be. We haven't seen any budgetary items for this. We have like a very schematic budget of very round numbers.
Everything's 400,000, 500,000, 600,000, which I understand schematics. I'm a planner, so I understand that. But what you're asking for here is $4 million, and we don't even know if that's enough. um to Doug's point and if it's not
enough going back here to page three projects that go over budget will be covered by the division not DCE reserves and project savings will go back to echo well we know there will be no savings but sorry if I'm sar sarcastic but at
any rate if this budget if this project goes over budget is there enough money in this ocean center capital fund to c to cover that. And we don't even know. This is the first time I've ever heard of the Ocean
Center Capital Fund. So there's an awful lot of accounting going on that we're really not privy to. And so so that's that's where I'm just having issue with this. and and I think the metrics it was
really interesting uh looking at the metrics of the success of this project uh financially for the community it's very important for Daytona Beach I totally agree uh but none of these we have financial operational and quality
metrics none of which actually addressed the needs of the taxpayer in Valuchia County I mean it's like good for business it's good for promotion and I totally agree with that Um, but you know, I'm old enough to remember when they first came out with that trickle
down effect, and it hasn't trickled down to me. So, there's probably a lot of other people that it hasn't trickled down to either. So, I just see a lot of this as being it's better, you know, a high tide floats all boats. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. But what is it actually doing with the taxpayer dollars? and and are the funds coming from, you know, someplace else? Why are we suddenly 10% of the budget? I mean, $4 million, I mean, that's a lot of money, you know,
actually. And then then there's the match. So, those are the the questions. Those are the things that just jumped out to me because I this is the first time I've seen the revised DCE program handbook and this new application we're
supposed to fill out. So, I I just like ripped it apart and I just don't feel we have enough information here to really make a clear decision. Um, and that's just my opinion. It's one man's opinion.
>> So, we don't make decisions on DCE their their review. So, but I thank you. Your points are well taken on feedback. This is why we did this exercise, Jay. So, I appreciate >> be happy to give you feedback. [laughter] >> No problem. um we we'll take that, you know, as we
continue to try to tweak the program and massage it to um appease all parties, but really it is a as Sabrina said, the DCE is a council program, the grants and aid program is your program, but we do want your input. So, um how that looks
may change. Um, again, this hasn't been presented to council, but we wanted to go through the exercise >> after we after we meet each month or each time we meet, I produce a report and I send it to Troy Kent, my council member who assigned me just so you'll
know what went on, you know. Um, so [clears throat] and what I'm going to send it, you know, my favorable approval of this or favorable, you know, support of this, but I still remain as you did concerned about where did the $4 million money fund come from? Where did that amount
come from? You know, what are the structural engineer requirements or what are the structural um what are the requirements or criteria that the people that made these decisions to produce this amount of money? Where did it come? What credentials did those people have is my
concern. You know, again, are we going to be able to give you enough? Is this enough to do what you need to do? Are there other stages coming down the road and so forth? So, I'm just concerned about the idea that $4 million sounds like a a nice number and it's a lot to taxpayers. It probably will provide a
lot of what you need, but where did you know you got on your project description about rigging grids and things like that? Well, what were the credentials of the people that produced that that number, [snorts] >> you know? >> So, theater projects who did that, they like I said earlier, they are recognized
in the in the in the world as the leaders in that. They were all [clears throat] structural engineers. They worked with structural engineers that actually were original to the building with the ocean center. >> I'm just telling you what I'm going to ask. Tell Troy Well, you need to ask these questions that you have this
information. First and foremost, I'm a CPA and spent many of my years working um for Fulton County and Atlanta and then Cobb County, pulling together project budgets and sticking to them. Probably overseen about 200 $200 million in in construction, if not more. I'll
keep it kind of conservative. So, bringing a I have personally every project that I've ever worked through has been brought in under time and under budget. So, we reach out to those who do know their numbers. These were not just numbers that we grabbed out of the air.
So we said in your professional opinion, one of them is David Ogle who is the pretty much I think the county architect, the resident county architect, but uh David has been working through um most of the design on the ocean center for many many years and he
works alongside Wel and alongside Paul Culver and he will reach out to them to get what industry standards are showing you know as as numbers. So when you're looking at the the the Clyde man suite and the bathrooms um we just put that out for active propo active bid that was
just awarded to um Paul is that right to Paul Culver. So we have those numbers are real time numbers and we know the square footage and we know so it was very scientific how these numbers were were pulled together. One of the what you can't do in Valuchia County is you
can't reach out at least my understanding and say we're going to issue an RFP before you have the funding. you can't reach. So you don't so you you're kind of limited on where you go to get your numbers. If you reach out to someone and say, "Hey, I need you to come in and look and tell me what this is going to cost," then you've
violated what would be, you know, someone having a >> Yeah. So So we have done none of that. Who [clears throat] we've reached out to are people that and you know who I have 100% confidence in providing the numbers that that we needed for what you saw. Um, we have a contingency in there, a
small contingency, 140,000. Um, there's some design fees in there as well. We've already paid for the design fees for the the rigging. The the ocean center's already paid for those. So, those have already been paid for. That estimate is basically we watched as terrace went up
and steel was impacted. The number kind of tweaked up a little bit as those were coming coming those numbers were coming in. >> So, I I feel comfortable with >> if I may too, Lynn. So just for context, we actually there was a bit of consternation when we did the DCE plan this year that this was not included by
some members of the community. Um and the reason why it wasn't included is we didn't want to grab a number out of the air. So we hired the best consultants in the business through task assignments which we can do as part of our process. Um and they gave us the numbers um that
being asked for today. So we have a defensible number, but previously we didn't have a defensible number. And so that's where this is coming from today that we waited until we had this data to come back to ask you.
>> Thank you. Thanks. >> Can I just respond to that a little bit because I I I like the project. I think it needs to go forward. I think the ocean center needs to be improved. Absolutely. And I'm excited about the
idea of concerts coming back. But when you talk about the community, what I have heard in the community is that their cultural community particularly is, excuse my French, pissed about this because they didn't get their $611,000.
And and yet we're putting 4 million of this into the ocean center. So just know that you're going to have to answer those questions because I'm getting them. I've gotten calls and emails about this. So, >> well, I think that that money, we can't use echo money because it's operational
for the cultural council grants. >> I know that was checked out, but that doesn't take away the burn for the cultural community that they that they did everything they were told to do and they lost their grants and now we're putting four million of eco funds into this. It's an issue out there in the
community with the cultural group. So, >> let me ask one other question too. Having said what I said about the the ocean, uh what assessments have been made or did you make about the structural integrity of the building as far as corrosion and other elements that might impact, you know, what you're
going to do as far as putting other steel in there? >> We have worked with um um what is the engineering firm? Zeb Zeb Cohen >> Zeb and ARC Arc and um Jim Corbett who
is who manages all the facilities for the county. Um you may or may not be aware of this but within a couple months after my arrival we put facilities back underneath Jim Corbett the PE who knew everything that needed to be done. And so we have started a wonderful
relationship with with that department and they were on it and that's where you started seeing the the the deck the garage the improvements in the garage started new electrical the new sub panels you know chillers all of the things that needed to be uh taken care
of. We were working directly with Jim on that and his engineers that he works with. We've already started with louver panels and yes there is going forward as well we have a five-year plan that we every year that we are required to do it. So it's a rolling plan but uh the
reinvestment once we get it up to where it needs to be just a continuous uh reinvestment annually for what needs to be especially outside with the corrosion it's ongoing it's not something that will just stop when we finish with these uh with these this investment. I think
this is an area where Jim Corbett has a specialization um when you're talking about buildings that are on the waterfront or ocean front because he was the facilities director for Guantanamo Bay when he was in the Navy. >> I have a question. >> Yes,
>> I'd like to repeat um what Jay asked is what is the Ocean Center capital fund and how much is in that account? So the capital fund. So let me see. Can you go to page um the page that we were just on 25 and this will probably this will make
it a little okay. So if you look at the ocean center up to the left where we impact by numbers. This will give you a little bit of understanding of where that is. Um we earn revenues because we lease space, provide food and beverage and then um we attract we attract events
or people that come and then they stay in the hotels and they spend and that gives us the tourist development tax money and it is from that money that is collected we get 50% of that money that is collected and the remaining uh 50% goes to the convention development tax.
So that's kind of how the TDT comes down. So when we get the TDT money, we use that that money is is by law required to stay into the uh the asset and we that's where we get the money for
the reimbursement or the reinvestment back into the asset. So uh it pays the bond. So there's the bonds that paid the garagees I think just paid for. So that money goes to pay for the asset and then the re the refreshment the refreshment
or the renovation of that. So in operations so the capital that you're looking at uh the capital fund is just the the reserves. So you know it flows through every year. You spend what you need to spend in the capital investment. You spend what you see what you need to spend in the operations side and then
there's a balance at the bottom kind of a retained earnings if you will from an accounting standpoint but it would be a restricted retained earnings that just would go back at that point into the rent the the renovation or back into the asset. So that is where that money comes from and there's a little over $2
million in there once you take the plans of the what's so we do as a fiveyear so we look what comes in take out and then you got a little reserve down here and it kind of follows you back up. That's why it really follows a retained earnings type of situation. Just a restricted retained earnings. It's about
over a little over two million right now. >> Any other questions? Were your Were your cancere were your questions answered? I I I hope >> as answered as they're going to be. Um, I I
think there should be a balance sheet somewhere that's showing like, you know, we're looking at a a brochure of some sort, but this Ocean Center Capital Fund, I mean, certainly somewhere in the county, there's a balance sheet that has that information in it, and [cough] it
wasn't [clears throat] included in the information we're seeing. So, and like I was questioning what's going to happen if it goes over budget and is that going to come out of the ocean center capital fund because according to the handbook,
it's not going to come out of DCE. >> Okay. It would, yes, it would come out of the capital funds. >> So, those, you know, those are just, you know, concerns that I have moving forward. I mean, this is a project that's underway. I mean, you guys have been out there replacing floors and all kinds of things
>> for a very long time. So there there should be like a rolling budget on where this project is. >> Oh, there is a rolling budget. We it's a fiveyear it's a fiveyear budget that we use for capital investment. >> And I I just feel like I know if I go to to somebody and ask them for $4 million
that I'm going to get asked an awful lot of questions. Absolutely. >> And be asked to come up with an awful lot of spreadsheets and accounting and I'm just not seeing it here. >> So it's just a comment. >> No. Oh, you're good. Trust me, as a CPA, I get it. I understand it. Sit on many
boards myself and I am probably a compliance guru or a compliance hawk when it comes to that. So, I appreciate any and all the questions. Ask them, >> right? Because we want to see a good ocean center. I mean, [clears throat] it's not I mean, it definitely needs to be improved. There's no question. And
and you're making huge progress from what I understand. So, so I compliment you on that. But still, we're talking about public dollars and we just should ask questions. >> Absolutely. >> So, I do have a comment potentially to to help support um the community aspect
of it is just bringing this forward and going forward. It would be really great to see a little bit more detail regarding free programming for the community. >> Um items that are going to be available at discounted rates for the local area
because these high dollar events are amazing. They're going to bring a huge amount of revenue. But in the interim, in the middle of all of those really great big events, we still have a community to support and we understand fully that there is a heavy amount of
homeless in the area. There is a heavy struggle in that area. So it would be nice to see some cooperation, some ideas, some strategy moving forward on how to support the area and u make it relevant as well,
>> not just for these big events. >> Gotcha. >> Any other questions? >> Move on to the next one, please. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, guys. >> All right. The other project is the Wilbur Boat House improvements and ADA upgrades. Uh $65,000 request. Their
match is from the beach management fund 35,000. This will be uh historic preservation as well as demolition and reconstruction of the deck, stairs, and ramps as well as uh ADA compliant handrail. So, this is a privatelyowned
uh but we do own the adjacent property where the boardwalk, deck, ramps, and stairs will be going. That's why we're taking care of uh that portion of the project. >> [clears throat] >> So, this will provide ADA access as well
as water access to the Halifax River. >> And Sabrina Slack, the county attorney, just keep in mind these are just discussion points. We're not This is all proposed. It's just discussion points. So, Lynn left, but I wanted to thank her
for being uh participating in the process um so we can kind of flesh out how this might work. So just just keep that in mind as we go through it that that try and focus on how the handbook would work versus the actual project. I
know they're interesting, but >> any questions about this project? >> No. Uh could I just really quickly I just for the benefit of the of the group this project goes back to 1993 I believe when it was when it came before the
council as a ICT project intramotal strategic transportation something something I should have written that down anyway it was one of three projects that the federal government provided it was no at
that time PO money to do for off street off-road projects. It was Wilbur Roadhouse, uh the delay train station and the first uh mile of um trail across Gemini Springs that because that follow the railroad railroad tracks. Anyway,
it's a great project. If you have dumping out there, it's a wonderful little asset for an unincorporated community and for the county I for people to use. And it's old. It's kind of like I don't know what the age of it is, but it goes back >> like the 20s.
>> Yeah. It goes back a long time. And uh I really am excited about the fact that we're now making this ADA compliant because those that issue is so important as one who took care of an ADA need needs person. So I hope that everybody
will will say, "Yeah, this one's good." >> Any questions or comments? >> Okay. Okay, we hope everybody filled out their review sheets. >> Good. >> Yeah. So, we're just going to use those as discussion points from today for the
minutes as of right now. Okay. All right. So, moving on to staff comments. Uh the three um the three resentions and the scope change will go to the county council um on January 20th as well as
the strategic plan. So, we will have four items. Um and then our next meeting is Friday, April 10th. And then our next cycle will start two weeks later on April 23rd. Um where the mandatory workshop will take place here in chambers. And that's all I have for
today. [clears throat] >> Advisory committee comments. Leo, anything? >> No, ma'am. >> Doug? >> Yeah, just you guys may all wonder why I became chatty Kathy today. Um, over the course of the last month, I had started
to do some research on things and I got in touch with Daniel and Nick and asked them to provide me with some specific items that I like wanted to see and was concerned about getting and they did a wonderful job. When I got back from my Christmas vacation, I had a huge packet waiting for me. In fact, when I sat down
today, I put my papers down and Le goes, "What's all that?" I go, "Don't worry about it. I did my homework. I've been doing my homework." So, he wanted us to do our homework and I've been trying to do that and and I'm, you know, I feel very, like I said, I feel, you know, just important that I I represent the
taxpayers properly that, you know, my council member had the had the um trust in me to to to appoint me to this and I want to make sure I do a good job and I do a good job in representing the taxpayers. So, thank you for pro providing me the information that answered a lot of questions for me and I
wanted to thank you for that. So, Jay No comment. >> Pat Nory. >> No. >> Pat, >> I think my biggest concerns with our agenda today were the Hotchka House and Lily in place and and I understood that
we did not have any action to take there, but I the the outcome and the long-term results and consequences of that those two properties really interest. And I [snorts] that's it. Thank So, I will I will share with you
that I I I followed the Dillards out and said, you know, my recommendation to them was to come to the county council meeting with a estimates of all of the work and a time frame that they can stick to. That's really why we're here. They've given us multiple plans that
they haven't executed. So if they come with with the knowledge of how long if they get the money from the other house, if they want 6 months and they have, you know, a plan, they may have a chance with council. That was my suggestion.
>> Thanks, Brad. >> Just just one comment on the Ocean Center. I did trade shows for 40 years. 40 years of my career. I did at least a trade two trade shows a month. And we we always talked about Daytona
Beach. I've been down here for 30 years now. And one of the things that comes up that used to come up every time we talked about using the ocean center is why the heck was it built on the ocean? Why wasn't it built on I4 in 95?
>> Okay. So, I mean, it was a long time ago. I understand that. But the negativity of using Daytona Beach for a trade show was was is out. I mean, it's unbelievable the reaction you got
because at that time when you go back 30 years, 25 years, there were no hotel sees. So, people had to drive in, try to find a place to park, and then drive out to a hotel 20 miles away. Now, I know things have changed since
then, but I didn't want to bring this up when when uh when they were here, but it's it's just something that that needs it really needs to be uh um drawn to to get the draw back to this area for for not only trade shows, but
concerts. And believe me, I go to a lot of concerts. I drive all over the state to go see these oldie concerts because I'm old, right? But uh [laughter] just just keep in mind that there's there's always been a lot of negativity
in the industry uh regarding the ocean center. >> Yeah. I just I I want to appreciate the staff's doing this bringing this whole thing up in front of the front of the committee and each and everyone participates.
That's inspiring. Truly, you know your background. you're doing it. And u Thank you. >> Thanks, Tom, >> Gerald. >> Oh, there's been enough said today. I'm good. [laughter] >> I want to thank staff also. I know you guys have worked really hard this year
and you've made a lot of improvements. Thank you. At that this meeting is adjourned. >> Okay. >> Thank you guys. >> John, do you do trivia? Don't do a real
[laughter] >> We're doing a Santana tribute concert and at the amphitheater in Deltona this Saturday. So I was just gonna let you know >> I'm going down to Boca Raton to see an old >> vanilla.
>> Oh wow. >> Yeah. No, you're fine. I'll give you I'll give you I'll give you my calendar as part of my And then it's online too if you wanted to. >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. If you go to the website >> Yeah. Leave your reviews here.
>> You can leave them here.